as in carefully
without any relaxation of standards or precision
strictly speaking, Columbus did not discover America—the people living there had long known about it the rules must be strictly obeyed
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Recent Examples of strictly
While Howard’s vision has remained steadfast, the strictly brick-and-mortar store has embraced social media to a degree.
—
Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 24 Oct. 2025
These include executive orders and regulatory changes to enforce immigration laws more strictly, pause or restrict refugee resettlement, reinstate rapid-expulsion policies like Title 42, expedite deportations, and increase border barrier construction.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
This is just one example of a larger problem—public markets no longer strictly seek the highest and best use of capital.
—Mike Terwilliger, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2025
The private ceremony, strictly for family members, will be held inside the museum.
—Emma George-Griffin, Freep.com, 22 Oct. 2025
Knueppel, as those like LeMelo Ball have already witnessed, isn’t strictly a shooter.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 22 Oct. 2025
Gathering Communist Party elites will review China’s upcoming five-year plan, an economic blueprint whose direction is strictly dictated by top leadership in the authoritarian state.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2025
On a strictly statistical basis, what Newsom wants to do to Republican representation in California has parallels to what Deep South states used to do to Black voters for much of the 20th century.
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Oct. 2025
The same people are also happy to clarify that, strictly speaking, a myriad is 10,000, and not the indeterminably large number most people think.
—Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025
Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 24 Oct. 2025
These include executive orders and regulatory changes to enforce immigration laws more strictly, pause or restrict refugee resettlement, reinstate rapid-expulsion policies like Title 42, expedite deportations, and increase border barrier construction.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
This is just one example of a larger problem—public markets no longer strictly seek the highest and best use of capital.
—Mike Terwilliger, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2025
The private ceremony, strictly for family members, will be held inside the museum.
—Emma George-Griffin, Freep.com, 22 Oct. 2025
Knueppel, as those like LeMelo Ball have already witnessed, isn’t strictly a shooter.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 22 Oct. 2025
Gathering Communist Party elites will review China’s upcoming five-year plan, an economic blueprint whose direction is strictly dictated by top leadership in the authoritarian state.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2025
On a strictly statistical basis, what Newsom wants to do to Republican representation in California has parallels to what Deep South states used to do to Black voters for much of the 20th century.
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Oct. 2025
The same people are also happy to clarify that, strictly speaking, a myriad is 10,000, and not the indeterminably large number most people think.
—Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strictly
Adverb
-
Always read the bag carefully to be sure.—
Endia Fontanez,
AZCentral.com,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Every bolt, every line of code, every system had to be validated and tested carefully, or the shuttle would never leave the launchpad.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
25 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
The setlist for the reunion tour to date has been rigidly predictable, with the group performing the same 23 songs, in the same order, at all the shows to date.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
9 Oct. 2025
-
The Personalization System – Continuously adapting your approach based on what's working and what isn't, rather than rigidly following someone else's blueprint.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
27 Aug. 2025
Adverb
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Recently, Carbon Robotics launched its autonomous weeder, which uses AI, robotics, and laser technology to navigate fields, precisely identify, and eliminate weeds, enhancing efficiency and reducing chemical dependence.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Oct. 2025
-
But that feels precisely wrong.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
The current price cap on Russian oil might be enforced more rigorously and potentially lowered.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Time,
15 Oct. 2025
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Meanwhile, friends, family and strangers are working rigorously to raise awareness about her case, many sharing about her with hashtags #helpfindkada and #kadascott.—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
PEOPLE,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Strictly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strictly. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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