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   stern

   /stəːn/

   adjective

   • 1. (of a person or their manner) serious and unrelenting, especially in the assertion of authority and exercise of discipline: "a smile transformed his stern face" Similar seriousunsmilingfrowningpoker-facedsevereforbiddinggrimunfriendlysombregravesoberausteredourstonyflintysteelyunrelentingunyieldingunforgivingunbendingunsympatheticdisapprovingrare:Rhadamanthineinformal:boot-facedOpposite genialfriendly
   • ▪ (of an act or statement) strict and severe: "stern measures to restrict vehicle growth" Similar strictseverestringentharshdrastichardtoughfierceextremerigorousrigidexactingdemandinguncompromisingunsparinginflexibleauthoritariandraconianinformal:badasssolidOpposite lenientlax
   • ▪ (of competition or opposition) putting someone or something under extreme pressure: "the past year has been a stern test of the ability of British industry"

   Word Origin Old Englishstyrne, probably from the West Germanic base of the verb stare.

   Derivatives

   • 1. sternness noun

   Scrabble Points: 5

   • S

     1

   • T

     1

   • E

     1

   • R

     1

   • N

     1

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