flinty

adjective

ˈflin-tē 

flintier; flintiest

1

: resembling flint

especially : stern, unyielding

flinty determination

2

: composed of or covered with flint

flintily

ˈflin-tə-lē 

adverb

flintiness

ˈflin-tē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• austere
• authoritarian
• hard
• harsh
• heavy-handed
• ramrod
• rigid
• rigorous
• severe
• stern
• strict
• tough

Examples of flinty in a Sentence

a flinty and determined hero

a flinty warrior hardened by years of battle

Recent Examples on the Web

These flinty souls remain a study in principled self-reliance and human ingenuity, having supported themselves and their families for years through subsistence farming and sundry side hustles: ceramics, teaching, salmon fishing, instrument making, firewood hawking, and weed growing. —Christine Ro, Longreads, 17 Sep. 2024

Then papa bear Harrison Lee Van Buren (Guy Pearce, in a fine, flinty performance) arrives home early. —Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 2 Sep. 2024

The mom of three earned widespread acclaim for her role as a flinty Russian spy posing as an American housewife in FX’s The Americans, and currently stars in Netflix’s political drama The Diplomat. —John Russell, Peoplemag, 10 July 2024

Other recommendations touched on matches, beer, jazz, orange peels and a flinty U.S. Marine. —Neal Rubin, Detroit Free Press, 25 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1536, in the meaning defined at sense 1