sternly
gb/stˈɚnli/ us/stˈɚnli/
B2
English
~ 6000
szigorúan
B2
1
szigorúan
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone] [verb] sternly (at [someone])
The teacher looked at the noisy students sternly until the room fell silent.
A tanár szigorúan nézett a zajongó diákokra, amíg el nem csendesedett a terem.
"That is enough," she said sternly, ending the argument.
– Elég volt – mondta szigorúan, véget vetve a vitának.
He was sternly warned that he would lose his job if he was late again.
The judge spoke sternly to the defendant about his behavior in court.
Her father shook his head sternly when she tried to make an excuse.
Learner examples
The mother spoke sternly to her son after he broke the window.
Az anya szigorúan beszélt a fiával, miután a fiú betörte az ablakot.
The coach looked sternly at the team when they did not listen.
Az edző szigorúan nézett a csapatra, amikor nem hallgattak rá.
The police officer warned us sternly to stay behind the line.
My boss answered me sternly and told me to finish the report today.
The teacher said our names sternly when we were too loud.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "sternly" with "seriously". "Seriously" can mean "in an honest or important way" (e.g., "I seriously like this song"), while "sternly" always includes a sense of strictness or disapproval, usually in someone’s tone, words, or expression. Learners also sometimes write "very stern" instead of "sternly" with verbs; use "sternly" with actions ("she spoke sternly"), and "stern" as an adjective with nouns ("a stern teacher").
Meaning
in a strict, disapproving way
Collocations
look sternly
|say sternly
|ask sternly
|reply sternly
|warn sternly
|sternly told
Synonyms
severely (Often sounds harsher and can suggest stronger criticism or punishment.)
|
strictly (Focuses more on following rules; less about facial expression or tone than "sternly".)
|
gravely (Emphasizes seriousness and sadness more than strictness or disapproval.)
Antonyms
gently (Suggests a soft, kind manner, the opposite of a hard, strict one.)
|
kindly (Shows warmth and friendliness instead of cold strictness.)
Themes
emotions
|communication
|behavior
|core_vocabulary
Definition
In a very serious and strict way that shows you do not accept something.
In a strict, serious, and often disapproving way that shows little warmth or tolerance.
Grammar
Dictionary form
sternly
IPA
GB/stˈɚnli/
US/stˈɚnli/
Syllables & stress
sternly (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (sternly)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: sternly
- Plural: sternlies
Word family
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.