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Sternest: meaning, definitions and examples

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sternest

 

[ ˈstɜrnɪst ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

emotional expression

The term 'sternest' refers to the superlative form of the adjective 'stern', which describes someone who is serious, strict, or severe in demeanor. A person who is stern exhibits a demeanor that leaves little room for frivolity or leniency and often commands respect or fear. The word is typically used to describe individuals, particularly authority figures, whose sternness may influence others' behavior.

Synonyms

austere, grim, harsh, severe, strict

Examples of usage

  • The teacher gave her sternest look to silence the chatter.
  • He used his sternest voice to command attention from the rowdy group.
  • In his sternest manner, the coach demanded commitment from the team.

Translations

Translations of the word "sternest" in other languages:

🇵🇹 mais severo

🇮🇳 सबसे कठोर

🇩🇪 strengste

🇮🇩 paling ketat

🇺🇦 найсуворіший

🇵🇱 najsurowszy

🇯🇵 最も厳しい

🇫🇷 le plus sévère

🇪🇸 el más severo

🇹🇷 en sert

🇰🇷 가장 엄격한

🇸🇦 الأكثر صرامة

🇨🇿 nejpřísnější

🇸🇰 najprísnejší

🇨🇳 最严厉的

🇸🇮 najstrožji

🇮🇸 strangast

🇰🇿 ең қатал

🇬🇪 ყველაზე მკაცრი

🇦🇿 ən sərt

🇲🇽 el más severo

Etymology

The word 'stern' has its origins in the Old English 'styrne', which means severe or rigid. The term has evolved over centuries, retaining its core meaning of seriousness and strictness. In Middle English, 'stern' appeared in various forms, and by the 15th century, it was fully integrated into the language as an adjective describing rigor or strictness. Adding the superlative suffix '-est' to 'stern' creates the term 'sternest', indicating the extreme degree of sternness. Over time, 'stern' has been applied in various contexts, from parenting to leadership, highlighting its enduring relevance in describing authority and seriousness across different cultures and eras.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #31,693 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.