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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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Nine months later, the parish's electric lines have been replaced by ramrod straight poles.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
See All Example Sentences for ramrod
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Nine months later, the parish's electric lines have been replaced by ramrod straight poles.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
See All Example Sentences for ramrod
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ramrod
Adjective
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Those strict security measures slowed down traffic and travelers and likely would not be welcome again.—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
23 Oct. 2025
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Loosening restrictions Chinese work visas generally come with strict, complex requirements and allow limited stays for a small group of high-end applicants who are sponsored by employers.—
Peter Guo,
NBC news,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Whether or not Takaichi's administration is as tough on immigration issues as her campaign rhetoric suggests, some observers warn that failing to actively invest in and integrate foreign nationals into society will have lasting harm on Asia’s second-largest economy.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
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Without a consolidation of that vote in the final stretch, Mamdani appears tough to beat.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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There’s a moving moment of magnanimity, which won’t be given away here, that proves the underlying dignity of a people broken by an authoritarian state.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
24 Oct. 2025
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The plot of His Dark Materials is driven by the long-running conflict between Pullman’s heroine, a bold, lithely intelligent 11-year-old named Lyra, and the Magisterium, an authoritarian incarnation of Christianity.—
Lev Grossman,
The Atlantic,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Several Dolphins who have been on the team for more than two years said Wednesday that McDaniel was more stern in meetings this week.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
22 Oct. 2025
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The culling of federal agencies has provoked stern warnings from nonprofit groups and other organizations that work to protect public lands and the agencies that manage them.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside,
20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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According to the woman, her parents’ reasoning for denying her requests was rooted in a harsh lesson about independence.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
26 Oct. 2025
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Instead of buying special cleaners or reaching for harsh chemicals to clean around your home, look to your medicine cabinet for a solution.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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While skinny jeans hug the body tightly from waist to leg, straight-leg jeans tend to be more rigid and fit slightly looser, especially through the lower part of the leg.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
21 Oct. 2025
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How underparenting is similar to other parenting styles As with slow parenting, underparenting doesn’t stick to a rigid routine—there is space to change plans and make space in their schedule for downtime.—
Alex Vance,
Parents,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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But competing with Swift is basically impossible for anyone, which makes this report a little hard to believe.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
26 Oct. 2025
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Potato plants can survive a light freeze, but a hard freeze below 30 degrees will kill them off.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
26 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The discovery of the solar cycle now moved Carrington to undertake a rigorous study of sunspots that soon earned him a reputation as Britain’s premier solar observer.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
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Public markets offer transparency, governance, and liquidity; private firms, by contrast, often avoid periodic reporting and undergo less rigorous oversight.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
26 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ramrod.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ramrod. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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