Sternly

//ˈstɝnli// adv

adv ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Adverb
  1. 1
    In a stern manner.

    "It was a historic night at Wembley Stadium that saw the European champions sternly tested by Copa America winners Brazil, but ended with the familiar sight of captain Leah Williamson lifting a trophy."

Adverb
  1. 1
    with sternness; in a severe manner wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms
harshlyausterelyfirmlygrimlyrigidlyrigorously

Example

More examples

""We don't give discounts," the woman said sternly. "Regardless how small. Now, please take off the suit if you can't afford it.""

Etymology

From Middle English sternly, sternely, sterneliche, sturnely, sturneliche, from Old English stirnlīċe, styrnlīċe, stiernlīċe (“harshly; severely; sternly”), equivalent to stern + -ly.

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.