variants or sternwards
Definition of sternwardnext
as in backward
near, toward, or in the stern of a ship or the tail of an aircraft a flight attendant hurried sternward to attend to the disturbance

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sternward
Adverb
  • But the refs ruled the backwards pass/lateral/whatever was actually a forward pass, no matter where the ball landed.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Where the series worked backwards from the bomb to uncover the botched grand plan behind it, the film loopily joins the dots from an apparent crime of passion to a far more famous crime of greed.
    Guy Lodge, Variety, 17 Sep. 2026
Adverb
  • Tzolis took the more direct route as his runs in behind gave Arsenal a dual threat to keep the entire Chelsea back line honest.
    Jack Lang, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • But for the users of AI models and services, it's created complexity and chaos as CEOs and IT managers spend an outsized amount of time and resources comparing costs and capabilities to avoid getting left behind.
    Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 6 Sep. 2026
Adverb
  • For multi-generation families that want to stay together, Benton Cottage offers the perfect base, containing four bedrooms and bathrooms, a living room, dining room, kitchen, and enclosed back yard.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Bronwyn’s mother, Muzzy, who was lambasted all of last season for being cold and arguably cruel to her daughter, is notably softer in her first scene back — though the bob is as cunty as ever.
    Tom Smyth, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2026
Adverb
  • Also of note is the Dusk Bar, which sits aft on Deck 10 and is stocked with interesting spirits.
    David Swanson, Travel + Leisure, 27 May 2024
  • Bars and Restaurants The best seat in the house was aft, on the Lido deck, soaking up the Mediterranean sunshine with a flute of Champagne.
    Helen Iatrou, Travel + Leisure, 30 Nov. 2023
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sternward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sternward. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster