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
Relevance
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Nine months later, the parish's electric lines have been replaced by ramrod straight poles.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
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Nine months later, the parish's electric lines have been replaced by ramrod straight poles.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
-
Capping those rates could backfire, resulting in significantly stricter lending standards and making credit unavailable to lower-income people or those with lower credit scores.—
Luciana Lopez,
CNN Money,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Per his release, the rapper must follow strict guidelines for the next five years, such as no alcohol, drug testing, and federal supervision when opening bank accounts.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
This leads to families having to make tough decisions, said Cindy Kincaid, family caregiver program manager at Centralina Regional Council.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Jan. 2026
-
She's been amazing, a sort of brutal support, tough lover, very educational.—
Breanne L. Heldman,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Seizures of National Park protected land, destruction of our White House, massive banners of his photo draped on the Department of Labor and USDA buildings — please tell me how Trump’s authoritarian actions are any different from Vladimir Putin or Saddam Hussein?—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Yet the president told The New York Times on Wednesday that US oversight of Venezuela could last for years, following its toppling of the country’s authoritarian leader, Nicolás Maduro.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Several French and Italian citizens were among the dead, and Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called for stern punishment to be meted out to those responsible for the blaze.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Continue reading … FLIP-FLOP – Reporter claims Harris privately joked about question before stern response.—
,
FOXNews.com,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Bipartisan harsh criticism Senators from both sides of the aisle blasted the investigation.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Common exfoliators and fine line-eliminators like retinol and glycolic acid are too harsh on my skin, but this serum utilizes lactic acid, which is far more gentle but just as potent.—
Kaitlin Clapinski,
InStyle,
11 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
No one is being ordered to give up bread, meat or the occasional indulgence, just as no one should treat a diagram as a rigid prescription.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Their analyses relied on rigid formulas that ignore the dynamics of companies driven by invention, rapid scaling, and exponential growth.—
Shane Goodwin,
Fortune,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Shouldn’t even be that hard to sharpen the blasted thing, let alone twist it.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Jones raved about his consistency, intelligence, hard work and athleticism.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Every personal finance article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of personal finance products.—
Andreina Rodriguez,
CNBC,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Denim and cotton can survive in rigorous washing, while silk and wool will need a gentle washing.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
11 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ramrod.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ramrod. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share