Definition of strictnext
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Synonym Chooser

How is the word strict distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of strict are rigid, rigorous, and stringent. While all these words mean "extremely severe or stern," strict emphasizes undeviating conformity to rules, standards, or requirements.

strict enforcement of the law

When could rigid be used to replace strict?

The synonyms rigid and strict are sometimes interchangeable, but rigid implies uncompromising inflexibility.

rigid rules of conduct

When would rigorous be a good substitute for strict?

The words rigorous and strict are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, rigorous implies the imposition of hardship and difficulty.

the rigorous training of recruits

When is it sensible to use stringent instead of strict?

Although the words stringent and strict have much in common, stringent suggests severe, tight restriction or limitation.

stringent standards of admission

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 strict Working with strict limitations—no more than five instruments; just one hour to make each track—the two West Coast leftfield vets turn out a surprisingly expansive set of wooly electronic jams. Daniel Bromfield, Pitchfork, 30 Mar. 2026 Once listed at 6 feet, Rojas is now suddenly listed at 5-foot-10 — reflecting his true height, much like the hundreds of ballplayers who shrunk under the microscope of MLB’s strict and standardized new measuring system, one far more accurate than the loose and relaxed ways of the past. Sam Blum, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026 Note that all bonus bets carry a strict 7-day expiration window, so deploying them efficiently while the schedule is dense is a good recipe for success. Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026 Outschool focuses on students ages 3-18 and encourages imaginative classes rather than strict curricula. Kathy Kristof, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for strict
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strict
Adjective
  • Prices were accurate at the time of publication but may change.
    Cody Godwin, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Hedrick also won a Fiesta Bowl, in 2014, and was hailed as one of the most accurate passers in the nation.
    Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • No pharmaceutical company, no academic medical center, and no government agency has found the existing preclinical data compelling enough to fund a rigorous human trial in over 30 years.
    Vikas Patel, STAT, 3 Apr. 2026
  • Every personal finance article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of personal finance products.
    Layla Melendez, CNBC, 3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Pitches that just barely graze the rigid outer edge of the strike zone prompted questions about how infinitesimally accurate the HawkEye technology that underpins ABS can be.
    Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026
  • The film’s surplus of action and chase scenes follows the same rigid formula of swooping camera movements and game power-up deus ex machinas that no sequence ever proves particularly exciting.
    Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • There was no true striker for England.
    Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2026
  • The Full Moon highlights your 4th House of Traditions, nudging you to think about what makes your residence a true home base.
    Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • His team, which includes his advisor Atsushi Shirane and Masaya Miyahara of Japan’s High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK), is aiming to develop a wireless system for controlling robots in this harsh environment.
    Katherine Bourzac, IEEE Spectrum, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Items that are wind-resistant and waterproof will be good for use in many harsh weather conditions in which the user would need protection.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • But many states have more stringent rules, and regulations vary widely.
    Sarah Raza, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
  • The process of more stringent measurements actually began last year, since ABS was utilized in spring training, so the changes in players’ height has been a process that’s played out both last and this spring.
    Sam Blum, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Orion is a tight space for four people to navigate, so the crew members have a careful choreography to maximize the data the astronauts can gather.
    Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 4 Apr. 2026
  • Through careful tuning of an extended Kalman filter and by taking advantage of bamboo’s natural vibration-damping properties, the system slashes control latency from 15–20 milliseconds down to just 8–10 milliseconds, enhancing responsiveness while keeping flight stable.
    Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • By definition, regime change is systemic change – something that has yet to be seen in the Islamic Republic, which remains under the same authoritarian theocracy that has been in place since the Iranian Revolution in 1979.
    Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2026
  • Stability without democracy is a replicable model that could normalize the management of useful authoritarian governments worldwide.
    Boris Muñoz, Time, 3 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Strict.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strict. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

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