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 In a sweeping crackdown on opposition, police in Hong Kong on Wednesday arrested more than 50 pro-democracy figures for allegedly violating the stringent new national security law, according to political parties and local media. — NBC News, "Dozens of Hong Kong pro-democracy figures, including U.S. lawyer, arrested," 6 Jan. 2021 The plaintiffs are asking that the E.U. commit to a 65 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, more stringent than the 55 percent reduction that E.U. leaders subsequently agreed to in negotiations unrelated to the case. — Popular Science, "A lawsuit filed by children has forced 33 countries to rethink their climate goals," 5 Jan. 2021 The amendments would place more stringent term limits on the SAWS board, made up of the mayor and six trustees appointed by City Council to staggered four-year terms. — Joshua Fechter, ExpressNews.com, "‘They’re trying to snuff it out’: San Antonio Water System wants judge to declare reform drive null and void," 5 Jan. 2021 Japan was one of the first countries hit by the pandemic, but the government was able to keep cases at bay by enacting stringent border controls, investing efforts in contact tracing and pushing its citizens to practice social distancing. — James Griffiths, CNN, "Japan poised for state of emergency as Covid-19 cases soar," 4 Jan. 2021 Energy codes in particular have become much more stringent in recent years, meaning that all new homes are designed with resource efficiency in mind. — Dallas News, "New homes offer more benefits than ever, association says," 3 Jan. 2021 The Sierra Club, Appalachian Mountain Club, and Natural Resources Council want the Army Corps of Engineers, which approved the project, to conduct a more rigorous environmental impact statement instead of the less-stringent environmental assessment. — BostonGlobe.com, "Hotel chain grows by more than 900 properties," 31 Dec. 2020 The new approach, replacing stringent protections that currently bar practically all home-delivery options, goes into effect in two months, but some requirements are likely to take years to implement. — Andy Pasztor, WSJ, "FAA Issues Long-Anticipated Rules for Commercial Drones," 29 Dec. 2020 The complaint said the county has imposed stringent closure times despite capacity restrictions, adding that Marion County's coronavirus regulations are stricter than elsewhere in the state. — From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, "Sandhill cranes, black-footed ferrets, Washington crossing the Delaware: News from around our 50 states," 28 Dec. 2020

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.