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
The current taproom will become strictly a space for production, while the new spot specifically will serve guests its craft beer, like the Not Far Away juicy pale ale and the Nava Mexican-style lager.
—
Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 2 June 2026
The Broadway production will follow a strictly limited pre-Broadway engagement in Boston at the Emerson Colonial Theatre from July 11 through July 30.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 2 June 2026
Fans get to know actors, musicians and directors beyond surface level because Poehler approaches each conversation from a more personal perspective, instead of strictly professional.
—Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 1 June 2026
People might assume that their path to survival will be to strictly carry out whatever mental health recommendations that the AI provides.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Following its run at London's National Theatre, which has already won Pike an Olivier Award, the Saltburn star will go on to make her Broadway debut at the Music Box Theatre in New York City for a strictly limited engagement.
—Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 1 June 2026
This was a personal, not a strictly professional appearance for the young Giants quarterback.
—Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
If the panel approves, disciplinary and policy recommendations are sent to the sheriff and chief probation officer, although those are strictly advisory.
—Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2026
Officials said the closure and testing are strictly precautionary.
—Asal Rezaei, CBS News, 31 May 2026
Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 2 June 2026
The Broadway production will follow a strictly limited pre-Broadway engagement in Boston at the Emerson Colonial Theatre from July 11 through July 30.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 2 June 2026
Fans get to know actors, musicians and directors beyond surface level because Poehler approaches each conversation from a more personal perspective, instead of strictly professional.
—Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 1 June 2026
People might assume that their path to survival will be to strictly carry out whatever mental health recommendations that the AI provides.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Following its run at London's National Theatre, which has already won Pike an Olivier Award, the Saltburn star will go on to make her Broadway debut at the Music Box Theatre in New York City for a strictly limited engagement.
—Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 1 June 2026
This was a personal, not a strictly professional appearance for the young Giants quarterback.
—Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
If the panel approves, disciplinary and policy recommendations are sent to the sheriff and chief probation officer, although those are strictly advisory.
—Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2026
Officials said the closure and testing are strictly precautionary.
—Asal Rezaei, CBS News, 31 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strictly
Adverb
-
The hot chicken bao and tuna tataki are as carefully considered as the whiskey list, and the sushi at Harriet’s rooftop bar is quietly some of the best sushi in Nashville.—
Lanee Lee,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
-
The dial is then carefully domed and given a galvanic coat of gold, before translucent purple lacquer is applied by hand and fired in a kiln.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
31 May 2026
Adverb
-
Rudd’s natural air of genial tension, of neurosis without an edge, plays into his character’s rigidly disciplined but relentlessly upbeat domesticity.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
29 May 2026
-
Each focuses on the love stories of specific couples, but while the show doesn’t follow the books’ format rigidly, all the beloved characters are present.—
Jennifer McClellan,
USA Today,
17 May 2026
Adverb
-
Programs like Breakthrough Therapy designation, Accelerated Approval, expanded access and the use of surrogate endpoints exist precisely because traditional timelines are not always appropriate when lives are at stake.—
Elise Esposito,
Boston Herald,
29 May 2026
-
Over the course of three weeks and nearly 150 hours, Mike Elder carefully crafted his honeybee sculpture, welding on antennas and legs, sculpting the yellow and black-striped body from foam and precisely designing its intricate wings.—
Jenna Ebbers,
Kansas City Star,
29 May 2026
Adverb
-
These are the only doses that have been studied rigorously for safety and efficacy.—
Jody Dushay,
STAT,
29 May 2026
-
Even better, the couch arrives fully assembled and has been rigorously vetted by Wayfair’s product specialists for quality and coziness.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Strictly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strictly. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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