sternly

IPA/ˈstɜːnli/
KK[stˈɚnli]IPA/ˈstɜːrnli/

sternly — 副詞

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

1.副詞B2
釋義

嚴厲地

以嚴肅不贊同的態度

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.

Okafor 老師嚴厲地看著那些在考試中竊竊私語的學生。

collocation: looked sternly at [someone]

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

Salma 的媽媽嚴厲地告訴她，出門前必須先把功課做完。

fronted adverb for emphasis

常見搭配
  • looked sternly at
  • spoke sternly to
  • said sternly
  • warned sternly
  • stared sternly at
  • sternly worded
  • sternly told
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.

同根字

常見搭配

名詞搭配

  • sternly worded letter
  • sternly worded email
  • sternly worded warning

副詞搭配

  • very sternly
  • quite sternly

常用片語

  • looked sternly at
  • spoke sternly to
  • said sternly
  • warned sternly
  • stared sternly at

介系詞搭配

  • sternly at
  • sternly to