as in martinet
a person who believes that something is very important and should be done or followed all the time
Her father was a stickler about arriving on time.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stickler
As carry-on only travelers, Ryan and I are sticklers about efficient packing.
—
Kristine Thomason, Travel + Leisure, 23 Aug. 2025
Regardless of what legal-ethics sticklers might think of its business model, the 156-person startup has been growing quickly.
—Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
His mom was a stickler for doing things the right way, and Travis did those things.
—Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
Sean Payton is a noted stickler for details, even beyond the normal standards of an obsessive group like professional football coaches.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stickler
Kristine Thomason, Travel + Leisure, 23 Aug. 2025
Regardless of what legal-ethics sticklers might think of its business model, the 156-person startup has been growing quickly.
—Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
His mom was a stickler for doing things the right way, and Travis did those things.
—Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
Sean Payton is a noted stickler for details, even beyond the normal standards of an obsessive group like professional football coaches.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stickler
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stickler
Noun
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Too much ink has been spilled on the pathological gilding of the Trump White House, but how to explain the attraction of today’s martinets to really dreadfully reproduced Louis Quatorze furniture?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Apr. 2026
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The September murder of the right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, who was close to many in the administration, including Miller, plunged Trump’s already single-minded martinet into a maximalist frenzy.—
Michael Scherer,
The Atlantic,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Mitevska also refuses to sanctify Mother Teresa more than necessary, instead portraying her as a strict disciplinarian who believed in organizational practicality as much as in the inherent holiness of children.—
Ritesh Mehta,
IndieWire,
27 Aug. 2025
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Considering his managers at Leeds included disciplinarians such as Wilkinson and George Graham, this was probably for the best.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
29 July 2025
Noun
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This is the meeting of the messenger planet and the taskmaster, let alone in the zodiac’s most fearless sign, setting the stage for a transit that cuts right through the fluff, forcing truth and directness.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
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Some of the movie is an acid satire of pre-wedding rituals — like the first dance that Charlie and Emma are dutifully rehearsing for, with a ridiculously stern taskmaster of a coach.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In turn, the criticizer is made out to be overreacting.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Securing this level of acoustic engineering for 42% off is a massive win for purists and casual listeners alike.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
17 Apr. 2026
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This turn toward a high-end consumer market — which reflects a broader trend among many retailers to cater to the affluent — hasn’t been without its critics, especially from music purists who view the festival as overly commercial.—
Cerys Davies,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stickler.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stickler. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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