flinty

adjective

ˈflin-tē How to pronounce flinty (audio)
Definition of flintynext
1
as in strict
given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint a flinty warrior hardened by years of battle

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in gruff
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance wrestling opponents intimidating each other with flinty stares

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of flinty Sporting Robert Shaw’s distinctive fisherman’s cap, flinty and crooked grin, and swarthy mutton-chop sideburns, Gildart Jackson’s is an evocative portrayal of Robert Shaw. — Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 10 Mar. 2026 Eva is a complex character, flinty and businesslike, deadly serious about her mission and willing to make ethical compromises to move it forward. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026 Ahn is sharper and flintier, but conveys the anxiety and mounting pressures Emily is facing quite well. — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 28 Jan. 2026 Season 1 detailed how Robby—a crinkle-eyed stalwart whose stethoscope seems made of thorns—was still suffering from PTSD from his experiences working during the coronavirus pandemic, while a violent attack from a patient made the otherwise flinty Dana reconsider whether her job was still bearable. — Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for flinty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flinty
  1. strict
  2. gruff
  3. tough
  4. stern
  5. harsh
  6. fierce
  7. authoritarian
  8. grim
Adjective
  • Though South Florida abides by strict statewide building codes to protect against wind and flooding, Lejeune is concerned that no new construction has been tested by destructive storms.
    — Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
  • In the 2026 session, the Legislature passed HB 991, an elections bill that requires strict proof of citizenship to vote and reduces the forms of photo ID that are acceptable at the polls.
    — Eric "Doc" Stelnicki, Sun Sentinel, 20 July 2026
Definition of strict
Adjective
  • Homer’s character, notorious as a schemer, here comes off as plain and direct—a gruff, practical tactician, rather than something more energetically inventive and morally dubious.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 15 July 2026
  • The New Zealander drew international acclaim for roles as gruff loners and unhinged villains.
    — Harrison Smith, Washington Post, 13 July 2026
Definition of gruff
Adjective
  • There were tough conversations between Naylor and Cleveland’s coaches and front office.
    — Zack Meisel, New York Times, 24 July 2026
  • Villegas, after a tough primary election battle against Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains, has roughly $572,000.
    — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of tough
Adjective
  • In Elliott’s Connecticut, the governor would send a busload of stern but compassionate counselors to protect workers hiding in their office where a gunman lurks.
    — Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 18 July 2026
  • Burnham brings a more relaxed style of leadership than the rather stern Starmer, and is regarded as one of the Labour Party’s best communicators.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 July 2026
Definition of stern
Adjective
  • The couple made sure the design included a basement where the kids could spend time, better insulation to handle South Dakota’s harsh weather and plenty of storage — all features their previous home lacked.
    — Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 18 July 2026
  • Those are some of the harsh conditions that detainees in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody described experiencing in recent weeks at the Federal Detention Center, a Bureau of Prisons facility located in a concrete tower in downtown Miami.
    — Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 18 July 2026
Definition of harsh
Adjective
  • Both yachts will provide fierce competition against Svea, owned by Swedish entrepreneur Niklas Zennström, when the trio meet at Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez in late September.
    — Chrissie McClatchie, Robb Report, 18 July 2026
  • Argentina's greatest strengths lie in their infectious unity and fierce mentality.
    — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 18 July 2026
Definition of fierce
Adjective
  • Socialism is an expansive term, applicable both to Scandinavian social democracies with strong private sectors and to authoritarian Communist regimes.
    — James Kirchick, The Atlantic, 21 July 2026
  • The data shows that democracies are overrepresented at the World Cup and also tend to do better than authoritarian nations – but does that matter?
    — John A. Tures, Fortune, 19 July 2026
Definition of authoritarian
Adjective
  • The tropes of the crime novel wear thin, with its grim foreshadowing and prodigious exposition.
    — Niela Orr, Vulture, 20 July 2026
  • But extrapolating from limited empirical studies paints a grim picture.
    — Charlie Campbell, Time, 20 July 2026
Definition of grim

Browse Nearby Words

flintlocks
flinty
flip
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Cite this Entry

“Flinty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flinty. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

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