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

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 — Margaret Coker, ProPublica, 19 Jan. 2023 Nine months later, the parish's electric lines have been replaced by ramrod straight poles.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

Adjective

Anthropic wants Congress to set strict limits on when federal authorities can stop advanced AI models from reaching users.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
France, unlike the United States, places strict limits on campaign spending, but money still shapes the broader political ecosystem.

— Nicholas Bequelin, Time, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of strict

Adjective

Celebrity hairstylist Brian Magallones considers this the perfect balance between a not-too-fussy and not-too-structured chignon, a style that sounds tough to style without a professional team but is actually quite easy to master at-home.

— Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
Coming off that dominant performance against the Yankees, Rasmussen went six-plus tough innings.

— Rob Maaddi, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of tough

Adjective

El Sistema was founded decades before Hugo Chavez came to power in a populist revolution that quickly turned authoritarian.

— Max Feliu, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026
What readers are saying The comments express overwhelming disapproval and outrage over the idea of live-streaming a public execution, likening it to barbaric practices of authoritarian regimes and terrorist groups.

— Aoife Walsh, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of authoritarian

Adjective

Below is Jordan — bearded, stern, and wearing a leather jacket — as Det.

— James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 12 Oct. 2026
Preliminary information indicates that the explosion occurred near the vessel’s stern deck, resulting in limited damage, a police spokesperson said in a statement.

— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of stern

Adjective

And now those still left in the battered city along Ukraine's southeastern front face death from hunger or disease as another harsh winter looms, with no agreement in sight for even a humanitarian evacuation.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
Despite low winds and little rain, harsh surf continues to wreak havoc along Southern California's coastal communities.

— Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC news, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of harsh

Adjective

Detours and shortcuts in the brain The cells and synapses of the brain aren’t arranged in rigid, linear paths for each task and experience.

— Sean Mccabe, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026
That potentially allows rigid structural elements and softer, flexible sections to be incorporated into the same object, provided the materials are compatible.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of rigid

Adjective

Two innings later, the Dodgers took the lead again, rewarded for hard contact as the Brewers’ defense showed its first signs of sloppy play.

— Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Games Can’t Gamble on Talent Opportunities to develop emerging talent are becoming harder to find, particularly in video games, van Beek said.

— Callum McLennan, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of hard

Adjective

Finally, Horrigan noted that inbound freight deserves the same rigorous management as outbound, stressing that procurement teams need visibility into the freight component of supplier pricing.

— Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026
The whole piece is about the free and rigorous interplay of line.

— Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 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 19 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of ramrod

adjective

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