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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sternward
Adverb
  • With the Penguins in the early seconds of a power play, Crosby took a feed from Karlsson while skating backward into the upper slot and fired a shot past Vladar.
    Josh Yohe, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
  • The Marlins’ Otto Lopez threw backwards to second base, and Schmitt couldn’t scramble back in time.
    Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2026
Adverb
  • The Magic, meanwhile, played like a team trying to close out a series – close, competitive, but just a step behind in the details that matter most in the postseason.
    Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2026
  • And then there are the Knicks, who fell behind, 1-2, in their first-round playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks before stringing together back-to-back double-digit victories, the most recent coming in a 126-97 at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday.
    Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 29 Apr. 2026
Adverb
  • Wagner already missed 48 games during the regular season while working his way back from injury, and the caution surrounding his current calf strain is understandable given the risk associated with rushing that type of issue.
    Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Ryan shot back, quoting a soldier from the CBS report, that telling the truth is important.
    Christopher Cann, USA Today, 30 Apr. 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 2 May. 2026.

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