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ramrod

adjective

Definition of ramrodnext
as in strict
given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint a ramrod camp director who's been known to send kids home for a minor infraction of the rules

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 ramrod That included tutorials on how to talk to older Black people, to drop some of his ramrod military formality and to be more self-deprecating in the store. — Margaret Coker, ProPublica, 19 Jan. 2023 Nine months later, the parish's electric lines have been replaced by ramrod straight poles. — Rebecca Santana, ajc, 30 May 2021 He was beloved by the British for his no-nonsense air, his ramrod straight Navy-man's posture, and his blunt words laced with a certain old-school humor at events public and private. — Guy Martin, Forbes, 9 Apr. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ramrod
  1. strict
  2. tough
  3. authoritarian
  4. stern
  5. harsh
  6. rigid
  7. hard
  8. rigorous
Adjective
  • Despite the massive guest list, Strahan shared on Good Morning America on July 6 that the ceremony still felt intimate because of the couple’s strict no-phones policy.
    — Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Martinessi’s sophomore feature is set in 1959, where the charismatic titular performer returns to Buenos Aires at the height of a strict military regime.
    — Callum McLennan, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of strict
Adjective
  • Because of the heat wave's dramatic effect on everyday life, Paris became a tough place to walk around in the sunshine.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2026
  • But Chipotle has been in a tough spot since Niccol departed in 2024, and even as Boatwright’s plan shows signs of momentum (same-store sales have begun to tick back up again), there are open questions about Chipotle’s strategic direction.
    — Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of tough
Adjective
  • The Bulwark founder on how to build a coalition durable enough to defeat authoritarian populism.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • On the one hand, the film pays witness to all the authoritarian insanity unfolding at state houses around the country.
    — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of authoritarian
Adjective
  • Chan told him to hold a stern face and let the part do the rest.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Khan himself stars as the outwardly stern but inwardly soft-hearted Etienne, who heads up the dozen-strong medical team.
    — Miriam Balanescu, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of stern
Adjective
  • The video, and Ovechkin’s subsequent statements, have sparked harsh criticism in Europe, the United States and Canada, which is part of the NHL.
    — Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Beyond biological and nuclear threats, AI companies face harsh organizational incentives to develop AI even faster and — experts say — more recklessly.
    — Jared Perlo, NBC news, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of harsh
Adjective
  • There has been a widespread opinion that football has become too rigid and regimented in recent seasons, but Luis Enrique’s PSG are one of the few antidotes to that.
    — Art de Roché, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Unlike its competitors, Hermès is a pre-haute-couture enterprise, founded before the rigid bureaucracy of French fashion was put into place, in the eighteen-sixties, with the establishment of a governing syndicate.
    — Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of rigid
Adjective
  • In top cities like Austin, Miami and Nashville, cash-flowing properties can be harder to find.
    — Justin Donald, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Two blue and yellow humanoid robots attempted to beat each other up with punches twice as hard as Mike Tyson’s.
    — Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of hard
Adjective
  • To classify a new fiber, the FTC requires its makers to demonstrate that the material is fundamentally different from existing fibers, established through a rigorous regulatory review.
    — Jennifer Bringle, Footwear News, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Success in the exam, one of the most rigorous standardized tests in the world, allows students to study at Korea’s top universities.
    — Lim Hui Jie,Miko Jang, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of rigorous

Browse Nearby Words

ramp (up)
ramrod
rams
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ramrod.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ramrod. Accessed 20 Sep. 2026.

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