Stern

Stern means being very serious and not showing a lot of kindness or fun, like when a teacher has a strict look on their face when they want the class to pay attention.

Examples

• The teacher's stern expression made it clear that she would not tolerate any talking during the important test we were about to take.
• When my dad gave me a stern look after I forgot to do my chores, I knew I needed to step up and help out more.
• During the basketball game, the coach's stern voice motivated us to play our best and follow the rules without any excuses.

Synonyms

Antonyms