stern
/stɜrn/
adjective
- Serious and strict in manner or attitude, showing disapproval or authority.
- My father was a stern man who rarely smiled, but he was fair.
- The teacher gave the students a stern look when they started whispering.
- The judge delivered a stern warning to the defendant.
- Firmly decided or enforced; not lenient.
- The company has stern rules against using phones during work hours.
- She faced stern opposition from the committee.
- Stern measures were taken to prevent further accidents.
noun
- The back part of a ship or boat.
- We sat at the stern of the small boat, trailing our fingers in the water.
- The captain stood at the stern, watching the wake of the ship.
- The lifeboat was stored near the stern.
Antonyms