Definition

1. Noun:
   • The quality of being uncompromising, strict, or severe in nature or manner: "Sternness" refers to a serious, firm, and often harsh attitude or expression that shows a lack of leniency or indulgence.
   • The quality of being grim, gloomy, or forbidding: "Sternness" can also describe the severe, austere, or uninviting character of something, such as a landscape or environment.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The teacher's sternness was well-known; she tolerated no disruptions in her class.
  • The sternness of the judge's voice silenced the entire courtroom.
  • The sternness of the rocky coastline was both beautiful and intimidating.

Advanced Usage

• "with sternness": in a severe or uncompromising manner.
  • He spoke with such sternness that everyone immediately obeyed.
• "a look of sternness": a facial expression conveying severity.
  • Her face softened, losing its usual look of sternness.

Variants and Related Words

• Stern (adj): having a severe and serious appearance or manner.
  • He gave a stern warning.
• Sternly (adv): in a severe and serious manner.
  • She looked at him sternly.

Synonyms

• Severity: the quality of being strict or harsh.
• Strictness: the quality of demanding that rules are obeyed.
• Grimness: the quality of being forbidding or uninviting.
• Austereness: severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance.

Antonyms

• Leniency: the quality of being more merciful or tolerant than expected.
• Gentleness: the quality of being mild, kind, or soft.
• Mildness: the quality of being gentle and not severe.

Related Phrases

• An air of sternness: a general impression or atmosphere of severity.
  • The principal entered the room with an air of sternness.

Noun

1. uncompromising resolution
2. the quality (as of scenery) being grim and gloomy and forbidding
   • the sternness of his surroundings made him uncomfortable