variants or sternwards
Definition of sternwardnext
as in backward
near, toward, or in the stern of a ship or the tail of an aircraft a flight attendant hurried sternward to attend to the disturbance

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sternward
Adverb
  • In other words, this is basically a demonic-possession story, albeit one without any actual demons; at one point, Nikki briefly starts moving backward for no reason.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 15 May 2026
  • All else being equal, the chance of tunneling forward is the same as tunneling backward because the overlap between the modes is symmetrical.
    Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 15 May 2026
Adverb
  • Qassem and Hanan drove from one hospital to another, trying to find Malak, while Ali stayed behind and kept looking for Zahra.
    Rania Abouzeid, New Yorker, 21 May 2026
  • Brady House and Robert Hassell III were close behind.
    Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 21 May 2026
Adverb
  • This did happen one morning and the camp staff of 8 jumped in and collectively replaced the pipework and got the water back on within 30 minutes.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 May 2026
  • According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of 2025, the Lone Star tick’s geographic spread extended all along the Eastern Seaboard, from Florida through central Texas in the south, up to the lower reaches of South Dakota and back across to Maine.
    Drew Pittock, USA Today, 21 May 2026
Adverb
  • Also of note is the Dusk Bar, which sits aft on Deck 10 and is stocked with interesting spirits.
    David Swanson, Travel + Leisure, 27 May 2024
  • Open exterior decks forward and aft allow for a steady sea breeze, as the owner—who was last aboard his yacht in the summer of 2021—used to regularly enjoy.
    Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 10 Feb. 2023
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Sternward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sternward. Accessed 23 May. 2026.

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