sternstern1 /stɜːn $ stɜːrn/ ●○○ adjective 
sterner penalties for drug offencesstern look/voice/expression etc ‘Wait!’ I shouted in my sternest voice.stern warning/rebuke His actions have earned him stern rebukes from human rights organizations.► see thesaurus at strict2be made of sterner stuff to have a strong character and be more determined than other people to succeed in a difficult situation: Ann, made of sterner stuff than I, refused all offers of help.—sternly adverb—sternness noun [uncountable]
WORD ORIGINstern1
Origin:
Old English styrneEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- a stern judge
- Her grandfather was a stern man who rarely smiled.
- Sheila walked into the museum, under the stern gaze of the curator.
- A stern judgment indeed, but an accurate one none the less.
- And she had also forgotten the stern lecture she had given herself earlier, she thought despairingly.
- But he reminded reporters of the stern warnings issued Sunday by Gen.
- But Thursday morning beaming managers were replaced by stern security guards who refused to even let workers into the building.
- Sundram insisted the act was a reasonable response to the stern anti-drug law approved under then Gov.
- The uniforms were different but the faces were the same: narrow and stern with a hint of cruelty in the eyes.
- This time, however, the opposition was made of sterner stuff.
THESAURUS
expecting people to obey rules or to do what you say – used especially about parents, teachers, or organizations: · Our teachers were very strict.· Most schools are quite strict about the way students dress.
showing that you are in control of the situation and will not change your opinion, especially when you are telling someone what to do: · You have to be firm with young children.· I’ll be firm with him and tell him he can’t have any more money.
determined that your orders or decisions will be obeyed, especially in order to make sure that a situation improves – used especially when you think that someone is right to be strict: · We need a government that is tough on crime.· She can be quite tough with her students, but they respect her for it.· The chancellor has got to be tough and keep government spending down.
strict in a serious, disapproving, and rather unfriendly way: · Her grandfather was a stern man who rarely smiled.· Sheila walked into the museum, under the stern gaze of the curator.
punishing or criticizing someone in a way that seems very severe, often too severe: · Don’t be too harsh on her – she’s only a child.· It may seem harsh to punish him, but he has to learn that this kind of behaviour is unacceptable.· Her reaction to the child’s bad behaviour was unnecessarily harsh.
disapproving very strict about forcing people to obey rules or laws, and punishing them very severely if they fail to do this – used about people and governments: · Her father was very authoritarian and insisted on total obedience.· an authoritarian government
Longman Language Activatorpeople/organizations someone who is strict makes people obey rules and refuses to let people disobey them - use this especially about parents, teachers, or organizations: · Teachers need to be strict , but also fair.strict with: · I think you're too strict with your children.strict about: · The manager is very strict about people getting to work on time.· Most schools are quite strict about the way students dress.
if you are firm with someone, you tell them that they must accept what you say because you are not going to change it: · Emily was polite but firm - her answer was 'no'.firm with: · You'll just have to be firm with him and tell him he can't have any more money.
informal determined that your orders or decisions will be obeyed, especially in order to make sure a situation or someone's progress improves - use this especially when you think that someone is right to be strict: · The chancellor has got to be tough and keep government spending down.tough on: · We need a government that is tough on crime.tough with: · She's quite tough with her students.
written strict in a serious, disapproving, and unfriendly way: · Her grandfather was a stern man who rarely smiled.· Sheila walked into the museum, under the stern gaze of the curator.
cruel and not sympathetic in the way that you deal with bad behaviour or mistakes: · It may seem harsh to punish him, but he has to learn that this kind of behaviour is unacceptable.· Her reaction to the child's bad behaviour was unnecessarily harsh.
forcing people to obey rules or laws, and punishing them severely if they do not: · Their father was authoritarian in the home, insisting on total obedience.· Many people are now demanding a more democratic and less authoritarian form of government.authoritarian regime: · an extreme right-wing, authoritarian regime
to demand that people keep strictly to rules, customs etc, especially in a way that people think is unnecessary and old-fashioned: · The caretaker is a real stickler for rules.· My mother was a stickler for cleanliness.
a very strict person who believes that people should obey rules and orders, and who punishes those who do not: · The store manager was a disciplinarian, but was always fair to his staff.strict disciplinarian: · She was a wonderful teacher, but a strict disciplinarian.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY ‘Wait!’ I shouted in my sternest voice. His actions have earned him stern rebukes from human rights organizations.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Surely you’re not going to give up? I thought you were made of sterner stuff (=were more determined).
‘Wait!’ I shouted in my sternest voice. His actions have earned him stern rebukes from human rights organizations. (=one that shows you are very strict or angry)· Aunty Kitty looked at us with a stern expression and ordered us indoors.
Surely you’re not going to give up? I thought you were made of sterner stuff (=were more determined).· I got a stern warning against giving false information to the police.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· The Soviet boy stands straight, and salutes us with a stern expression on his face.
· This time, however, the opposition was made of sterner stuff.· But it seems to us that hypocrisy should be made of sterner stuff.· Ann, made of sterner stuff than the rest of her tribe, leapt from the car, determined to fish.· Miller seemed about to choke on his drink, but Floyd was made of sterner stuff.· But Bastide was made of sterner stuff.· She examined little boys as if they were made of much sterner stuff than mere flesh and bone.· In the years separating the two Great Wars women were made of sterner stuff.
· Salisbury returned at the pavilion end: a stern test of nerve, even with immortality beckoning should success by his.· Now this knowledge will be put to a stern test.· The sternest test the plane has yet faced.· What began as a stern test ended as a laugher.· At 6,352 yards, par 71, it already offers a stern test of technique without being physically onerous.· Ufford Park offers a stern test without being too physically demanding.· In September 1297 Wallace and Moray faced their sternest test.· Rob's trout rod had stood the sternest test.
· From within the universities there were stern voices of anti-vocationalism and resistance to public demands for responsiveness, strengthening the impression.· A stern voice spoke of the significance of this moment, the victorious Allied forces coming together in Berlin.· He spoke in a stern voice, nodding to-wards the stairs.
· He gave a stern warning against the dangers of the arms race.· But he reminded reporters of the stern warnings issued Sunday by Gen.· The court gave a stern warning against future attempts to scoop it.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1serious and strict, and showing strong disapproval of someone’s behaviour: - But Bastide was made of sterner stuff.
- But it seems to us that hypocrisy should be made of sterner stuff.
- In the years separating the two Great Wars women were made of sterner stuff.
- Miller seemed about to choke on his drink, but Floyd was made of sterner stuff.
- The female characters, too, are made of sterner stuff than the quick-witted schemers of Figaro.
- The visitors seem to be made of sterner stuff.
- This time, however, the opposition was made of sterner stuff.
- He flashed his security pass under the eyes of the two armed guards posted beside the exit door.
- The hoopla also continued well into the night outside the casinos under the eyes of Las Vegas police and security guards.
- They act out roles and techniques under the watchful eye of their instructors.
- Thwarted, he then embraced her stiffly before taking the baby in his arms under the watchful eye of his wife.
- Today, the Reichardt duck farm is run under the watchful eye of Jim Reichardt, great grandson of the original founder.
- Voice over Back at the Young Telegraph, their final copy is put together under the watchful eye of a full-time reporter.
- If self-employment is any guide, the dejobbed worker is likely to be a stern taskmaster.
- She was a hard taskmaster but a considerably fairer one than la Belle Ethel.
- True to his word, he schooled her in horsemanship and was a hard taskmaster.
sterner penalties for drug offencesstern look/voice/expression etc ‘Wait!’ I shouted in my sternest voice.stern warning/rebuke His actions have earned him stern rebukes from human rights organizations.► see thesaurus at strict2be made of sterner stuff to have a strong character and be more determined than other people to succeed in a difficult situation: Ann, made of sterner stuff than I, refused all offers of help.—sternly adverb—sternness noun [uncountable]