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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Recent Examples of stickler
My mom was a stickler for whole foods, locally sourced and nutrient-dense.
—
Footwear News, 20 May 2025
Not usually a stickler for this sort of thing, but Phoebe’s phone doesn’t have a passcode.
—Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 25 Apr. 2025
Gilbert & Sullivan sticklers might need about 20 minutes to fall under the spell of Roundabout’s Pirates!
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 24 Apr. 2025
Some people rely on points and miles, while others are sticklers about booking in advance or researching differential deals on sites like Groupon.
—Lydia Mansel, Southern Living, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stickler
Footwear News, 20 May 2025
Not usually a stickler for this sort of thing, but Phoebe’s phone doesn’t have a passcode.
—Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 25 Apr. 2025
Gilbert & Sullivan sticklers might need about 20 minutes to fall under the spell of Roundabout’s Pirates!
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 24 Apr. 2025
Some people rely on points and miles, while others are sticklers about booking in advance or researching differential deals on sites like Groupon.
—Lydia Mansel, Southern Living, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stickler
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stickler
Noun
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But Muir’s co-moderator, Linsey Davis, was a different case: Davis wore a mannish, gray suit jacket and struck a pose of martinet — almost schoolmarmish — solemnity.—
Armond White,
National Review,
20 Sep. 2024
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There’s Cece’s father, long vanished; Ronnie, a predator; Marcel, a martinet; Joel, a manipulator; and a random catcaller in the street, whom Cece sends scurrying away by turning her acting skills to practical use.—
Richard Brody,
The New Yorker,
12 June 2024
Noun
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By several accounts, Xi was a ferocious disciplinarian.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
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He was variously depicted as both a strict disciplinarian and also an emotionally intelligent father figure to the players.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
1 June 2025
Noun
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Provide coaching and mentorship so managers become inspiring guides rather than just taskmasters.—
Melanie Hughes,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
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On July 13, taskmaster Saturn will station retrograde in Aries, presenting the opportunity to recalibrate and refocus.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
12 July 2025
Noun
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One of the style’s most contentious points among purists is its pearlescent finish, which has shifted to varying shades over the shoe’s many reissues.—
Riley Jones,
Footwear News,
9 July 2025
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In a repeat of the conflict over H-1B visas, Trump-supporting businesses that rely on immigrant labor are clashing with MAGA purists who see deportation as a key strategy to get higher-paying jobs for Americans.—
Irina Ivanova,
Fortune,
22 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stickler.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stickler. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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