stickler

Definition of sticklernext
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.

Related Words

Relevance

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 stickler Carter, at the time, was a stickler. Jack Crosbie, Rolling Stone, 17 Mar. 2026 Yes, some sticklers would insist that greatly should never stand between to and excel. Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026 Mike Bibby is a stickler for details in a sport that has defined him and often consumes him. Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 16 Jan. 2026 As carry-on only travelers, Ryan and I are sticklers about efficient packing. Kristine Thomason, Travel + Leisure, 23 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stickler
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stickler
Noun
  • His chief antagonist is his caustic first wife, Queen Marguerite (Joy DeMichelle), who operates as a kind of a martinet death doula.
    Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
  • 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
Noun
  • You are asked to be teachers, counselors, social workers, disciplinarians, mentors, advocates, crisis managers and emotional anchors for children navigating an increasingly complicated world.
    Susana A. Mendoza, Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2026
  • Early in the film, as Joe was assembling the Jackson 5 with Michael and his brothers, Joe is depicted as a harsh disciplinarian who brutally beats young Michael with a belt.
    Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • She is thrown into isolation before getting the opportunity to once again assimilate, Marc is a genuine taskmaster, but a dedicated defender publicly and to the cops about the legitimacy of his operation and its residents.
    Pete Hammond, Deadline, 15 May 2026
  • Embree was never an in-your-face taskmaster.
    Jesse Newell, New York Times, 7 May 2026
Noun
  • In turn, the criticizer is made out to be overreacting.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Sunday’s game was not for baseball purists.
    Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 1 June 2026
  • Schildhouse is admittedly a rollout purist and advocate of the week-by-week episodic drop (the TOBS finale will air June 24), but their premium subscription tier, BritBox Premier, gives dedicated fans early access to episodes, among other perks.
    Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 28 May 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stickler.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stickler. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on stickler

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster