RAMROD Synonyms: 84 Similar and Opposite Words

ramrod

adjective

Definition of ramrod

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

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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 — Margaret Coker, ProPublica, 19 Jan. 2023 Nine months later, the parish's electric lines have been replaced by ramrod straight poles.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

Adjective

Beijing's core motivation is maintaining strict capital controls; a freely transferable yuan token would undermine this.

— Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
The company said that its advanced production lines operate at 95% automation, using thousands of checkpoints to guarantee strict quality control.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of strict

Adjective

Coventry, for example, face Manchester City away in Gameweek Three, while some of the teams worth targeting early like Manchester United, Chelsea and Sunderland have tougher fixtures in Gameweeks Three or Four.

— Abdul Rehman, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
This summer has seen a confluence of challenges, including excessive heat that allows food contamination to grow and a pathogen that’s particularly tough to pin down.

— Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of tough

Adjective

The island’s very existence—a prosperous, democratic Chinese society integrated with the West—offers a stinging rebuke to the claim that authoritarian rule is uniquely suited to the Chinese people.

— Charlie Campbell, Time, 11 Aug. 2026
The reason is that protesters fear that the Republic of Georgia will continue following an authoritarian path similar to Russia’s, crushing their hopes and dreams of being another Western-style democracy that is a member of NATO and the EU.

— Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of authoritarian

Adjective

There, her stern Granny and poised Aunt Helen (Genevieve O’Reilly) are horrified by her lack of refinement and her indifference about finding a respectable husband.

— Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026
In addition to a stern, demanding father, the boy is further plagued by a sudden physical instability, requiring an iron body brace that keeps him ramrod-straight.

— Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of stern

Adjective

Certainly Larimore is pointing out that hard times lead to hard truths and hard decisions.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 10 Aug. 2026
Perseus Rising in the northeast after dark, Perseus is not the easiest constellation to make sense of, but its rich star fields are hard to miss.

— Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of hard

Adjective

Thanks to the shrinking publishing industry and dwindling writerly job market, the internet is rife with smart freelance editors, rigorous copy editors, and award-winning authors moonlighting as book doulas.

— Keziah Weir, Vanity Fair, 13 Aug. 2026
Every personal loan article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of personal loan products.

— Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of rigorous

Browse Nearby Words

ramp (up)

ramrod

rams

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“Ramrod.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ramrod. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of ramrod

adjective

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