- 1serious and often disapproving; expecting someone to obey you synonym strict a stern face/expression/look a stern warning Her voice was stern. The police are planning sterner measures to combat crime.
- 2serious and difficult a stern test of nerves We face stern opposition.
adverb
Idioms
to have a stronger character and to be more determined in dealing with problems than other people Many would have given up, but Tim was made of sterner stuff.See stern in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
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