sternlyadverb
uk/ˈstɜːn.li/us/ˈstɝːn.li/in a way that shows disapproval:
"This kind of behaviour is not acceptable," said the teacher sternly.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Severe
- an iron hand/fist in a velvet glove idiom
- austere
- authoritarian
- be heavy on sb idiom
- disciplinarian
- flinty
- hard
- heavy
- iron
- pitiless
- rigour
- roundly
- rule sth with an iron hand/fist idiom
- severe
- sharp
- stern
- strict
- strictly
- strictness
- take a hard line on sb/sth idiom
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