stern
Unyielding in demeanor
Stern describes something serious, severe, or uncompromising.
A stern expression shows disapproval or gravity.
A stern warning is delivered with force and gravity.
Stern discipline is strict and unyielding.
The word suggests an absence of warmth or leniency: Her stern demeanor intimidated the new employees.
Separately, the stern of a ship is its rear section, opposite the bow. (Capitalized Stern is a surname.)
Harsh and foreboding
- starkSevere and unadorned
- dourSternly gloomy
- forbiddingIntimidatingly stern or hostile
- implacableIncapable of being pacified
unrelenting · unforgiving · relentless · unsparing · draconian · punitive · merciless · pitiless
Refusing to give way
- inflexibleUnable to bend
- rigidUnable to bend
- harshUnpleasantly severe or rough
- austereSeverely simple and unadorned
uncompromising · demanding · stringent · authoritarian · exacting · unbending · disciplinarian · no-nonsense
grim
Harsh and foreboding
- starkSevere and unadorned
- dourSternly gloomy
- forbiddingIntimidatingly stern or hostile
implacable · unrelenting · unforgiving · relentless · unsparing · draconian · punitive · merciless · pitiless · cold
unyielding
Refusing to give way
- inflexibleUnable to bend
- rigidUnable to bend
- harshUnpleasantly severe or rough
austere · uncompromising · demanding · stringent · authoritarian · exacting · unbending · disciplinarian · no-nonsense · firm
transom
Crossbar above a door
sternpost · quarterdeck · poop deck · lazarette · propeller · wake · helm · davit · gunwale · bulwark
abaft
Toward a vessel's rear
quarter · abeam · topside · inboard · outboard · windward · leeward · portside · starboard
- sailingsailboat, sailing, sails, sailboats, catamaran
- seafaringship, sailors, ships, sail, sailor
- TitanicTitanic, RMS Titanic, iceberg, sinking, lifeboats
- harsh tonesharsh, sharp, biting, cutting, caustic
- strictsevere, harsh, rigid, firm, tough
- naval cultureanchors, nautical terms, sailors, captains, admirals
- stern lookHarsh disapproving expression
- stern warningForceful cautionary statement
- from stem to sternCompletely, end to end
- made of sterner stuffExceptionally resilient in character
- Howard Stern
- stern fatherStrict male parent
sternly, sternness, astern, sternest, sterns, sterner, sternwheelers