sternly

sternly — adverb

1. in a manner that expresses seriousness, disapproval, or an expectation that some

1.副詞B2
釋義

in a manner that expresses seriousness, disapproval, or an expectation that someone must obey you — for example, when a teacher speaks to a student who has misbehaved, or when a parent looks at a child to show they are displeased.

例句

Mrs. Okafor looked sternly at the students who were whispering during the exam.

collocation: looked sternly at [someone]

Sternly, Salma's mother told her to finish her homework before going out.

fronted adverb for emphasis

同義詞
  • severely

    more intense; suggests harshness or strict punishment rather than just firm seriousness

  • strictly

    focuses on enforcing rules precisely; 'sternly' emphasises personal disapproval more

  • harshly

    implies cruelty or lack of kindness; 'sternly' is more about firmness without cruelty

反義詞
  • gently

    kind and soft in manner, opposite of firm disapproval

  • kindly

    warm and caring, opposite of the serious tone that sternly conveys

文法句型

sternly + verb

verb + sternly

sternly + past participle (e.g. sternly worded)

用法筆記

Frequently modifies verbs of communication or visual attention — most commonly look, speak, tell, warn, stare, and say. The fronted position (e.g., 'Sternly, she said…') adds emphasis and is more common in writing than in speech.

常見錯誤

❌The teacher told him stern
✅The teacher told him sternly.
💡'stern' is an adjective; the adverb 'sternly' is required after a verb.
❌He sternly explained the rules, but gently.
✅He sternly explained the rules, then spoke gently.
💡'sternly' and 'gently' express opposite tones and cannot modify the same verb simultaneously.