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
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
This type of companion isn’t just occasionally opinionated or a stickler for proper grammar.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 4 Aug. 2025
That's not to say that there aren't sticklers for the old way of doing things: leaving your phone at home or in the car, tucking it in your purse or pocket, turning it off, and at the very least, putting it on silent or vibrate mode.
—Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for stickler
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
This type of companion isn’t just occasionally opinionated or a stickler for proper grammar.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 4 Aug. 2025
That's not to say that there aren't sticklers for the old way of doing things: leaving your phone at home or in the car, tucking it in your purse or pocket, turning it off, and at the very least, putting it on silent or vibrate mode.
—Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for stickler
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stickler
Noun
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And then there’s the U.S. Army officer who succeeds in apprehending Perfidia: Col. Steven J. Lockjaw, played in a graying military fade, with some fur on top and a martinet scowl, by Sean Penn.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
17 Sep. 2025
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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
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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In Pisces, the taskmaster teaches us how to dream without delusion, and how to love without losing ourselves in the process.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
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Cancer is a tough taskmaster, and doctors didn’t detect it early enough.—
Barry M. Bloom,
Sportico.com,
1 Oct. 2025
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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Parisian purists say the move betrays the artistry and craftsmanship of France’s tradition of couture.—
NPR,
NPR,
24 Oct. 2025
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Language purists like to remind anyone who will listen that decimation actually means the slaughter of one in ten people, and was the military punishment wielded by the Roman army against deserters and mutineers.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stickler.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stickler. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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