Stern — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ˈstərn/

Meaning & Definition of Stern

Stern (adjective)

  1. having a definite hardness or severity of nature or manner, austere
  2. expressive of severe displeasure, harsh
  3. forbidding or gloomy in appearance

Stern (noun)

  1. the rear end of a boat
  2. a hinder or rear part, the last or latter part

Stern (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint

    "the army post's stern commander always had the utmost respect of those who served under him"

    similar: austere, authoritarian, flinty, hard, harsh, heavy-handed, ramrod, rigid, rigorous, severe, strict, tough
    related: demanding, exacting, uncharitable, unforgiving, adamant, adamantine, callous, hardened, hard-hearted, hard-line, immovable, implacable, inflexible, merciless, ossified, pitiless, relentless, rock-ribbed, stiff, unbending, uncompromising, unrelenting, unsparing, unyielding, dour, gruff, ascetic, monastic, monkish, browbeating, bullying, determined, firm, resolved, single-minded, steadfast, unflinching, dogged, intractable, obstinate
    opposite: clement, forbearing, gentle, indulgent, lax, lenient, tolerant
    near: easy, easygoing, laid-back, undemanding, charitable, kind, merciful, mild, patient, soft, softhearted, accepting, compromising, yielding, responsive, willing, acquiescent, agreeable, amenable, complaisant, compliant, flexible, pliable, pliant

  2. harsh and threatening in manner or appearance

    "a stern receptionist took our names without even looking up"

    similar: austere, dour, fierce, flinty, forbidding, grim, gruff, intimidating, lowering, rough, rugged, severe, stark, steely, ungentle
    related: bleak, cold, hostile, inhospitable, inimical, unfriendly, unsympathetic, adamant, bound, determined, firm, intent, purposeful, resolute, resolved, steadfast, unflinching, fixed, hard, hardened, hardheaded, immovable, implacable, inflexible, ironhanded, mulish, obdurate, obstinate, rigid, self-willed, set, stiff, stubborn, unbending, uncompromising, unrelenting, unyielding, willful, immutable, unchangeable, black, cheerless, dark, gloomy, glum, joyless, melancholic, moody, morose, sulky, sullen, surly, brooding, grave, humorless, melancholy, serious, sober, sobersided, solemn, somber, staid, unsmiling, weighty
    opposite: benign, benignant, gentle, mild, nonintimidating, tender
    near: bland, meek, mellow, soft, soothing, easy, quiet, tranquil, agreeable, bright, cheerful, inviting, pleasant, pleasing, sweet, glad, happy, lighthearted, merry, mirthful, sunny, featherbrained, flighty, frivolous, giddy, goofy, harebrained, light-headed, playful, scatterbrained, silly

Stern (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in beam

    similar: beam, backside, behind, booty (slang), bottom, breech, bum, buns, butt, buttocks, caboose, can, cheeks, derriere, duff, fanny, fundament, hams, haunches, heinie (slang), hunkers, keister (slang), nates, posterior, rear, rear end, rump, seat, tail, tail end, tush (slang), moon (slang)

Related Entry: From stem to stern (phrase)

From stem to stern is a different word from Stern. The synonyms below are for from stem to stern, not for stern.

  1. with attention to all aspects or details

    "They inspected the new house from stem to stern before moving in."

    similar: completely, comprehensively, detailedly, exhaustively, fully, inside out, minutely, roundly, sweepingly, systematically, thoroughly, through and through, totally, at length, from the ground up, in detail
    related: meticulously, microscopically, all-out, full blast, intensively, broadly, encyclopedically, extensively, generally, globally, widely, conclusively, consummately, definitely, perfectly
    near: aimlessly, desultorily, haphazardly, hit-or-miss, randomly, cursorily, imperfectly, inadequately, narrowly, shallowly, sketchily, summarily, superficially, indeterminately, nebulously, vaguely

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Stern

The most common words with a similar meaning to Stern:

Slang: booty, heinie, keister, tush, moon
austere, authoritarian, flinty, hard, harsh, heavy-handed, ramrod, rigid, rigorous, severe, strict, tough, dour, fierce, forbidding, grim, gruff, intimidating, lowering, rough, rugged, stark, steely, ungentle, beam, backside, behind, bottom, breech, bum, buns, butt, buttocks, caboose, can, cheeks, derriere, duff, fanny, fundament

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Stern

Words with the opposite meaning of Stern:

clement, forbearing, gentle, indulgent, lax, lenient, tolerant, benign, benignant, mild, nonintimidating, tender

Related Words for Stern

demanding, exacting, uncharitable, unforgiving, adamant, adamantine, callous, hardened, hard-hearted, hard-line, immovable, implacable, inflexible, merciless, ossified, pitiless, relentless, rock-ribbed, stiff, unbending, uncompromising, unrelenting, unsparing, unyielding, ascetic, monastic, monkish, browbeating, bullying, determined

Near Antonyms of Stern

easy, easygoing, laid-back, undemanding, charitable, kind, merciful, patient, soft, softhearted, accepting, compromising, yielding, responsive, willing, acquiescent, agreeable, amenable, complaisant, compliant, flexible, pliable, pliant, bland, meek, mellow, soothing, quiet, tranquil, bright

Word Forms of Stern

Derived words: sternly (adverb), sternness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Stern

Middle English sterne, from Old English styrne; akin to Old English starian to stare stare

First known use: before 12th century

Words & Phrases Containing Stern

stern chase, stern chaser, stern sheets, stern-wheeler, from stem to stern

Frequently Asked Questions about Stern

What does "Stern" mean?

"Stern" means having a definite hardness or severity of nature or manner, austere. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: having a definite hardness or severity of nature or manner, austere. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Stern"?

Other words for "Stern" include austere, authoritarian, flinty, hard, harsh, heavy-handed, ramrod and rigid. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Stern" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Stern"?

There are 140 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Stern". Common alternatives include austere, authoritarian, flinty, hard, harsh, heavy-handed, ramrod, rigid, rigorous and severe.

What is a slang word for "Stern"?

Slang words for "Stern" include booty, heinie, keister, tush and moon.

What is the opposite of "Stern"?

Antonyms of "Stern" include clement, forbearing, gentle, indulgent, lax, lenient, tolerant and benign. Near antonyms include easy, easygoing, laid-back and undemanding.

How do you use "Stern" in a sentence?

Examples of "Stern" in a sentence: "the army post's stern commander always had the utmost respect of those who served under him"; "a stern receptionist took our names without even looking up".

Is "Stern" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Stern" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Stern"?

"Stern" is pronounced /ˈstərn/.