Definition of STRINGENT

Choose the Right Synonym for stringent

rigid, rigorous, strict, stringent mean extremely severe or stern. rigid implies uncompromising inflexibility. rigid rules of conduct rigorous implies the imposition of hardship and difficulty. the rigorous training of recruits strict emphasizes undeviating conformity to rules, standards, or requirements. strict enforcement of the law stringent suggests severe, tight restriction or limitation. stringent standards of admission

How Should You Use stringent?

Words that are synonymous with stringent include rigid, which implies uncompromising inflexibility ("rigid rules of conduct"), and rigorous, which suggests hardship and difficulty ("the rigorous training of firefighters"). Also closely related is strict, which emphasizes undeviating conformity to rules, standards, or requirements ("strict enforcement of the law"). Stringent usually involves severe, tight restrictions or limitations ("the college has stringent admissions rules"). That's logical. After all, rigorous and rigid are both derived from rigēre, the Latin word meaning "to be stiff," and stringent and strict developed from the Latin verb stringere, meaning "to bind tight."

Examples of stringent in a Sentence

stringent rules against unauthorized persons being in the building

Recent Examples on the Web Many hospitals seek to walk this line by allowing visitors for dying patients, with stringent restrictions. — Joanna Sharpless, Time, "The Pandemic Is Changing How We Die—And Not Just for COVID-19 Patients," 13 May 2020 The policy applies to the U.S. and Canada, where Lyft operates, including in areas which may have less-stringent mask policies. — NBC News, "House probe finds U.S. efforts to screen travelers from Italy and South Korea were lax," 8 May 2020 Those groups also roundly support the stringent limits on economic activity that state and local officials have imposed to slow the spread of the virus and minimize its death toll. — New York Times, "Bridging Divides, Most Agree on Economic Outlook: It’s Bleak," 18 Apr. 2020 Administration officials were discussing less-stringent measures as well. — Anchorage Daily News, "Trump: No quarantine, but travel advisory for New York, New Jersey and Connecticut," 29 Mar. 2020 Reuters/Alberto Lingria Italy’s already-stringent rules are now even more restrictive. — Luiz Romero, Quartz, "More than 100,000 people have been caught defying Italy’s lockdown," 24 Mar. 2020 In the District, one major restaurant owner initially bucked the less-stringent restrictions on bars and restaurants that Bowser announced on Sunday. — Antonio Olivo, Washington Post, "Maryland restaurants, bars must shut down as coronavirus cases top 100 in Washington area," 16 Mar. 2020 Confronted by the powerful ride-share lobby on Beacon Hill, state leaders haven’t summoned the will or nerve to impose the kind of high fees and stringent limits other cities are using to try to curb the traffic. — BostonGlobe.com, "Seeing red," 21 Nov. 2019 But then in the early 1990s, the Kentucky General Assembly put in place more stringent campaign donation limits. — Scott Wartman, Cincinnati.com, "Why do Northern Kentuckians vote less? Business leaders search for answers," 31 Oct. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'stringent.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.