Stern
adjective
Serious and unsmiling, especially in an authority position to show control.
The teacher's stern look quickly made the students quiet.
Often appears as...
- stern look
- stern voice
adjective
Very severe or serious.
The stern punishment for stealing is imprisonment.
Often appears as...
- stern punishment
- stern measures
noun
The back part of a ship or boat.
He stood at the stern of the boat watching the sunset.
Often appears as...
- ship's stern
- boat's stern
adjective
Steadfast, unyielding.
His stern resolve was what got him through the hard times.
Often appears as...
- stern resolve
- stern determination
adjective
Serious and unsmiling, especially in an authority position to show control.
The teacher's stern look quickly made the students quiet.
Often appears as...
- stern look
- stern voice
adjective
Very severe or serious.
The stern punishment for stealing is imprisonment.
Often appears as...
- stern punishment
- stern measures
noun
The back part of a ship or boat.
He stood at the stern of the boat watching the sunset.
Often appears as...
- ship's stern
- boat's stern
adjective
Steadfast, unyielding.
His stern resolve was what got him through the hard times.
Often appears as...
- stern resolve
- stern determination
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/3Authority Emphasis
Used to emphasize the strictness or control an authority figure must convey in certain situations.
The judge gave the defendant a stern warning about the consequences of another offense.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Necessarily Angry
'Stern' often suggests seriousness without anger; conveying disapproval or firmness.
Despite her stern expression, she was not actually upset, just focused.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotional Control
Shows someone maintaining composure and not showing softer emotions.
The stern-faced leader did not celebrate the victory but remained composed.
Pro Tip 1/3Authority Emphasis
Used to emphasize the strictness or control an authority figure must convey in certain situations.
The judge gave the defendant a stern warning about the consequences of another offense.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Necessarily Angry
'Stern' often suggests seriousness without anger; conveying disapproval or firmness.
Despite her stern expression, she was not actually upset, just focused.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotional Control
Shows someone maintaining composure and not showing softer emotions.
The stern-faced leader did not celebrate the victory but remained composed.
Pro Tip 1/3Authority Emphasis
Used to emphasize the strictness or control an authority figure must convey in certain situations.
The judge gave the defendant a stern warning about the consequences of another offense.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Necessarily Angry
'Stern' often suggests seriousness without anger; conveying disapproval or firmness.
Despite her stern expression, she was not actually upset, just focused.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotional Control
Shows someone maintaining composure and not showing softer emotions.
The stern-faced leader did not celebrate the victory but remained composed.
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Video examples
Dry-docking a Cruise...
other tug captains earn their paychecks I'm here you can really see the job these guys have laid out for them they've got to get the stern of that ship read it into the drydock a little bump here comes with a huge price tag this is the crunch time right now this is what its gonna happen fast and furious you need to get the stern into the drydock
Video examples
Put a value on nature! -...
it's not that straightforward biodiversity the living fabric of this planet is not a gas it exists in many layers ecosystem species and genes across many scales international national local community and doing for nature what Lord Stern and esteemed it for climate is not that easy and yet we
Video examples
Simon Sinek: How to...
And so I, like many others, we went into mission mode. And I called a friend of mine who is active-duty military. And I asked him a very simple question, how do I compartmentalize my emotions so that I can stay focused on the mission? And he gave me a very stern warning. He said, you can't.
Video examples
On exploring the oceans...
said Yorktown on the stern more recently finding ancient history how many ancient mariners have had a bad day the numbers of million we've been discovering these along ancient trade routes where they're not supposed to be the shipwrecks thanked hundred years
Video examples
The Science of a Happy...
he was quite stern in a way and challenged me. And he said, "You've been using the tools of modern neuroscience to investigate depression and anxiety and stress and fear. Why can't you use those same tools to study kindness and compassion?"
Video examples
Dignity isn't a...
with my grandfather. The first thing was he always gave me a stern warning that if I ever sassed anybody who worked there, I was in deep doo-doo when we got home. He said, "these people work really hard -- harder than you can imagine,
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 253 PIPE...
caused a bit of upset in the herd remember how I said they're very protective over their little ones even if it's not their own baby and that one female on the left gave us a very stern look as we made our way closer so we're
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 146 PIPE...
I shall be deeply upset let that be a stern warning to you Lily one second it was one second here we go okay let's see if I was right great bull shark we have there you got them their sins all that so we garden you got one
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 202 PIPE...
characteristic I remember back in the day when I was still training my trainer we stopped at a bird like this and he asked me what said I said I'm not really into birds he gave me a very stern look and since then I've put
Video examples
Preparing for Breakup PIPE...
to protect his home and the lives of himself and his sled dogs my next job is I got to get my army boats turned over get them Stern to stern and then connect them up to each
Video examples
Dry-docking a Cruise...
other tug captains earn their paychecks I'm here you can really see the job these guys have laid out for them they've got to get the stern of that ship read it into the drydock a little bump here comes with a huge price tag this is the crunch time right now this is what its gonna happen fast and furious you need to get the stern into the drydock
Video examples
Put a value on nature! -...
it's not that straightforward biodiversity the living fabric of this planet is not a gas it exists in many layers ecosystem species and genes across many scales international national local community and doing for nature what Lord Stern and esteemed it for climate is not that easy and yet we
Video examples
Simon Sinek: How to...
And so I, like many others, we went into mission mode. And I called a friend of mine who is active-duty military. And I asked him a very simple question, how do I compartmentalize my emotions so that I can stay focused on the mission? And he gave me a very stern warning. He said, you can't.
Video examples
On exploring the oceans...
said Yorktown on the stern more recently finding ancient history how many ancient mariners have had a bad day the numbers of million we've been discovering these along ancient trade routes where they're not supposed to be the shipwrecks thanked hundred years
Video examples
The Science of a Happy...
he was quite stern in a way and challenged me. And he said, "You've been using the tools of modern neuroscience to investigate depression and anxiety and stress and fear. Why can't you use those same tools to study kindness and compassion?"
Video examples
Dignity isn't a...
with my grandfather. The first thing was he always gave me a stern warning that if I ever sassed anybody who worked there, I was in deep doo-doo when we got home. He said, "these people work really hard -- harder than you can imagine,
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 253 PIPE...
caused a bit of upset in the herd remember how I said they're very protective over their little ones even if it's not their own baby and that one female on the left gave us a very stern look as we made our way closer so we're
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 146 PIPE...
I shall be deeply upset let that be a stern warning to you Lily one second it was one second here we go okay let's see if I was right great bull shark we have there you got them their sins all that so we garden you got one
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 202 PIPE...
characteristic I remember back in the day when I was still training my trainer we stopped at a bird like this and he asked me what said I said I'm not really into birds he gave me a very stern look and since then I've put
Video examples
Preparing for Breakup PIPE...
to protect his home and the lives of himself and his sled dogs my next job is I got to get my army boats turned over get them Stern to stern and then connect them up to each
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Tim McGraw
American Musician
I think you have to be a little bit strict. You can't be friend and their parent in a lot of situations, especially in this day and age where it's so dangerous for kids. So there's a bit of sternness, I guess, in the way I raise my kids.
Quote examples
Ramana Maharshi
Indian Philosopher
If you are vigilant and make a stern effort to reject every thought when it rises, you will soon find that you are going deeper and deeper into your own inner self, where there is no need for your effort to reject the thoughts.
Quote examples
David Slade
British Director
My agent and manager would sternly tell me exactly the number of projects that we've turned down at this point. But, I think it's really important to do the right thing next.
Quote examples
Friedrich Schiller
German Dramatist
The greater part of humanity is too much harassed and fatigued by the struggle with want, to rally itself for a new and sterner struggle with error.
Quote examples
Jennifer Connelly
American Actress
I look very serious. I look stern even when I'm not stern. If I'm not feeling cross, I look a little bit cross. I can't help it. It's just my face.
Quote examples
Bubba Wallace
American Driver
No matter what faces you in life, always look up to God, and he will guide the way. You just have to walk that path very stern, and very proud.
Quote examples
Nick Young
American Athlete
I don't have to go through life being mean or having a stern face just to play basketball. I enjoy the game and play it how I like to play it.
Quote examples
Lord Byron
British Poet
Though sages may pour out their wisdom's treasure, there is no sterner moralist than pleasure.
Quote examples
Carrie Fisher
American Actress
I think that the truth is a really stern taskmistress.
Quote examples
William Shakespeare
English Playwright
Ambition should be made of sterner stuff.
Quote examples
Tim McGraw
American Musician
I think you have to be a little bit strict. You can't be friend and their parent in a lot of situations, especially in this day and age where it's so dangerous for kids. So there's a bit of sternness, I guess, in the way I raise my kids.
Quote examples
Ramana Maharshi
Indian Philosopher
If you are vigilant and make a stern effort to reject every thought when it rises, you will soon find that you are going deeper and deeper into your own inner self, where there is no need for your effort to reject the thoughts.
Quote examples
David Slade
British Director
My agent and manager would sternly tell me exactly the number of projects that we've turned down at this point. But, I think it's really important to do the right thing next.
Quote examples
Friedrich Schiller
German Dramatist
The greater part of humanity is too much harassed and fatigued by the struggle with want, to rally itself for a new and sterner struggle with error.
Quote examples
Jennifer Connelly
American Actress
I look very serious. I look stern even when I'm not stern. If I'm not feeling cross, I look a little bit cross. I can't help it. It's just my face.
Quote examples
Bubba Wallace
American Driver
No matter what faces you in life, always look up to God, and he will guide the way. You just have to walk that path very stern, and very proud.
Quote examples
Nick Young
American Athlete
I don't have to go through life being mean or having a stern face just to play basketball. I enjoy the game and play it how I like to play it.
Quote examples
Lord Byron
British Poet
Though sages may pour out their wisdom's treasure, there is no sterner moralist than pleasure.
Quote examples
Carrie Fisher
American Actress
I think that the truth is a really stern taskmistress.
Quote examples
William Shakespeare
English Playwright
Ambition should be made of sterner stuff.
Example 1 of 10
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