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
Campos and her colleagues stress that their role is strictly observational — never to interfere.
—
Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2026
What's more, while binoculars and telescopes will improve the view, equipment isn't strictly required to spot the cluster in the night sky.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 9 Jan. 2026
There are many ways to break it up, ranging from using strictly hand tools to renting a wood chipper.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 8 Jan. 2026
It’s owned by a co-op, strictly skiers-only, and so dedicated to preserving natural conditions that snowmaking is extremely limited.
—Lydia Price, Travel + Leisure, 8 Jan. 2026
Players making off-island alliances with other potential returnees before leaving for Fiji is strictly forbidden.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Jan. 2026
The District strictly enforces all applicable policies, rules, and laws, including those related to preventing abuse, harassment, and misconduct.
—Asal Rezaei, CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026
Locals call it wishiwilly del suampo, this lizard is strictly confined to mangrove forests.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 7 Jan. 2026
Restaurants that are strictly kosher are certified by the Orthodox Rabbinical Board of Broward and Palm Beach Counties.
—Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2026
Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2026
What's more, while binoculars and telescopes will improve the view, equipment isn't strictly required to spot the cluster in the night sky.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 9 Jan. 2026
There are many ways to break it up, ranging from using strictly hand tools to renting a wood chipper.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 8 Jan. 2026
It’s owned by a co-op, strictly skiers-only, and so dedicated to preserving natural conditions that snowmaking is extremely limited.
—Lydia Price, Travel + Leisure, 8 Jan. 2026
Players making off-island alliances with other potential returnees before leaving for Fiji is strictly forbidden.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Jan. 2026
The District strictly enforces all applicable policies, rules, and laws, including those related to preventing abuse, harassment, and misconduct.
—Asal Rezaei, CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026
Locals call it wishiwilly del suampo, this lizard is strictly confined to mangrove forests.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 7 Jan. 2026
Restaurants that are strictly kosher are certified by the Orthodox Rabbinical Board of Broward and Palm Beach Counties.
—Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strictly
Adverb
-
Every detail is carefully considered, right down to the moon-like globe lighting (which we're told is meant to emulate the bulbs surrounding a starlet's dressing room mirrors), and a calming palette of forest greens, powder pinks and deep blues gives the space a classic yet contemporary feel.—
Cassie Doney,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Measure carefully and note the pattern repeat if there is one.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
11 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
While rigidly matching all your fixtures was once believed to make a bathroom feel sophisticated and seamless, today, designers disagree.—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
31 Dec. 2025
-
The source claims Nick's days are rigidly controlled, his movements limited and his contact with the outside world effectively non-existent.—
Danielle Bacher,
PEOPLE,
20 Dec. 2025
Adverb
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According to researchers at Penn State’s Materials Research Institute, the characteristics of nanotubes can be precisely tuned by selecting specific atomic compositions.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Nov. 2025
-
The result is a workforce that is smaller, less dynamic, and aging faster, precisely when adaptation to technological change requires the opposite.—
Jane Sadowsky,
Fortune,
8 Nov. 2025
Adverb
-
That electoral timeline was rigorously followed when Maduro’s predecessor, Chavez, died of cancer in 2013.—
Megan Janetsky,
Fortune,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Whether innovation stems from new tech or old, IEEE Spectrum will continue to cover it rigorously in 2026.—
Perri Thaler,
IEEE Spectrum,
21 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Strictly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strictly. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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