Antonyms for sternly
Grammar : Adv |
Spell : sturn |
Phonetic Transcription : stÉœrn |
Definition of sternly
Origin :- Old English styrne "severe, strict," from Proto-Germanic *sternijaz (cf. Middle High German sterre, German starr "stiff," störrig "obstinate;" Gothic andstaurran "to be stiff;" Old Norse stara; Old English starian "to look or gaze upon"), from PIE root *ster-, *star- "be rigid" (see sterile).
- As in seriously : adv not humorously
- As in severely : adv harshly
- The bridesmaids had been sternly forbidden to come into her room.
- Extract from : « K » by Mary Roberts Rinehart
- Hubertine was obliged to speak to her sternly, and tell her to be quiet.
- Extract from : « The Dream » by Emile Zola
- "Perhaps you are mistaken there, my man," I said, as sternly as I could.
- Extract from : « In the Valley » by Harold Frederic
- "I will say nothing to him about that or any other matter," replied Margaret sternly.
- Extract from : « Fair Margaret » by H. Rider Haggard
- "Let me know the next story he tells; I'll cure him," said Mr. Morton, sternly.
- Extract from : « Night and Morning, Complete » by Edward Bulwer-Lytton
- That which sternly impels us in the direction of profit, along the line of desire.
- Extract from : « The Devil's Dictionary » by Ambrose Bierce
- I said, sternly, but with a calmness which almost astonished me.
- Extract from : « The Works of Whittier, Volume V (of VII) » by John Greenleaf Whittier
- I am sternly forbidden to believe that the paper educates the public.
- Extract from : « American Notes » by Rudyard Kipling
- All through her married years, she had sternly drugged it and kept it sleeping.
- Extract from : « Tiverton Tales » by Alice Brown
- "You've promised," he said sternly, eyes ranging the street.
- Extract from : « The Black Bag » by Louis Joseph Vance
Synonyms for sternly
- actively
- acutely
- all joking aside
- badly
- cool it
- critically
- cut the comedy
- dangerously
- determinedly
- down
- earnestly
- extremely
- fervently
- firmly
- for real
- gravely
- hard
- hardly
- in all conscience
- in all seriousness
- in earnest
- intensely
- intently
- markedly
- painfully
- passionately
- purposefully
- resolutely
- rigorously
- roughly
- sedately
- seriously
- sharply
- simmer down
- sincerely
- soberly
- solemnly
- sorely
- sternly
- straighten out
- strictly
- thoughtfully
- vigorously
- with a straight face
- with an iron hand
- with forethought
- with sobriety
- zealously
Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019