as in strictly
without any relaxation of standards or precision
the judge stuck rigidly to the letter of the law
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 rigidly
North Korea remains a close ally, rigidly committed to traditional communist tyranny.
—
Arthur I. Cyr,
Chicago Tribune,
10 June 2026
Rudd’s natural air of genial tension, of neurosis without an edge, plays into his character’s rigidly disciplined but relentlessly upbeat domesticity.
—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
29 May 2026
Each focuses on the love stories of specific couples, but while the show doesn’t follow the books’ format rigidly, all the beloved characters are present.
—
Jennifer McClellan,
USA Today,
17 May 2026
In China's rigidly hierarchical world of diplomacy, protocol and ceremony carry weight.
—
ABC News,
12 May 2026
Magyar’s campaign has been rigidly domestic.
—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
12 Apr. 2026
Now, when a ball-strike call is challenged, the strike zone will be rigidly defined based on a batter’s height.
—
Juliette Arcodia,
NBC news,
24 Mar. 2026
Handling has been sharpened by rigidly mounting the rear subframe and reworking the Bilstein dampers.
—
Basem Wasef,
Robb Report,
25 Feb. 2026
American parents, who can sometimes, though certainly not always, adhere rigidly to strict sleep-training schedules may miss out on this more flexible style of family life.
—
Katrina Donham,
Parents,
25 Feb. 2026
Arthur I. Cyr,
Chicago Tribune,
10 June 2026
Rudd’s natural air of genial tension, of neurosis without an edge, plays into his character’s rigidly disciplined but relentlessly upbeat domesticity.
—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
29 May 2026
Each focuses on the love stories of specific couples, but while the show doesn’t follow the books’ format rigidly, all the beloved characters are present.
—
Jennifer McClellan,
USA Today,
17 May 2026
In China's rigidly hierarchical world of diplomacy, protocol and ceremony carry weight.
—
ABC News,
12 May 2026
Magyar’s campaign has been rigidly domestic.
—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
12 Apr. 2026
Now, when a ball-strike call is challenged, the strike zone will be rigidly defined based on a batter’s height.
—
Juliette Arcodia,
NBC news,
24 Mar. 2026
Handling has been sharpened by rigidly mounting the rear subframe and reworking the Bilstein dampers.
—
Basem Wasef,
Robb Report,
25 Feb. 2026
American parents, who can sometimes, though certainly not always, adhere rigidly to strict sleep-training schedules may miss out on this more flexible style of family life.
—
Katrina Donham,
Parents,
25 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rigidly
Adverb
-
Decorating rules can be helpful guidelines, but adhering too strictly to conventional wisdom can seriously cramp your style.
-
Comic books until then had been strictly boys’-own adventures, with titles like Eagle and Hotspur, that gave young boys permission to revel in the grim 20th century wars their fathers had fought in.
Adverb
-
Thermal runaway risks must be carefully managed through rigorous testing, monitoring systems, and battery-management software.
-
Weather conditions are read carefully -- light, wind, temperature -- there's no rush.
Cite this Entry
“Rigidly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rigidly. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
