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
Daily prayers and Bible study sessions are strictly regimented for the children; cellphones, computer games and secular music, among many other things, are verboten.
—
Guy Lodge, Variety, 18 May 2026
National anthems were strictly prohibited during award ceremonies.
—Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
But the council seems to have no obligation to actually follow Lee’s guidelines, or even to strictly follow the ballot language.
—Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 15 May 2026
The rooms The rooms are more ’80s yuppy vibes than strictly modernist.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 May 2026
Rather than positioning itself strictly as a trim supplier, Notape reported pursuing licensing, equipment leasing and joint development partnerships centered on the manufacturing technology behind the system.
—Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 14 May 2026
What's different this time around is that the Sacramento Observer in Stockton is strictly digital.
—Irene Gonzalez, CBS News, 14 May 2026
Some of those laws troopers are looking to enforce more strictly include the state's Move Over, Slow Down rules for passing safety vehicles and seat belt laws.
—Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 13 May 2026
And when Frida’s interest seems to go beyond the, um, strictly professional, Gabrielle, after a moment’s resistance, gives in to it.
—Jon Frosch, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2026
Guy Lodge, Variety, 18 May 2026
National anthems were strictly prohibited during award ceremonies.
—Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
But the council seems to have no obligation to actually follow Lee’s guidelines, or even to strictly follow the ballot language.
—Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 15 May 2026
The rooms The rooms are more ’80s yuppy vibes than strictly modernist.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 May 2026
Rather than positioning itself strictly as a trim supplier, Notape reported pursuing licensing, equipment leasing and joint development partnerships centered on the manufacturing technology behind the system.
—Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 14 May 2026
What's different this time around is that the Sacramento Observer in Stockton is strictly digital.
—Irene Gonzalez, CBS News, 14 May 2026
Some of those laws troopers are looking to enforce more strictly include the state's Move Over, Slow Down rules for passing safety vehicles and seat belt laws.
—Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 13 May 2026
And when Frida’s interest seems to go beyond the, um, strictly professional, Gabrielle, after a moment’s resistance, gives in to it.
—Jon Frosch, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strictly
Adverb
-
After each piece of leather is meticulously cut—which can be done by hand or by laser—it is carefully glued to the base and detailed with tone-on-tone stitching.—
Justin Fenner,
Robb Report,
17 May 2026
-
Use baking soda carefully to avoid harming nearby plants or larger shrubs.—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
17 May 2026
Adverb
-
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
-
In China's rigidly hierarchical world of diplomacy, protocol and ceremony carry weight.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 May 2026
Adverb
-
Becerra, who is a slim-margin front-runner for governor, was the victim in this case — or more precisely, his state campaign bank account was, according to court documents.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
-
The Dubai model is precisely the one Iran wants to destroy.—
Thomas L. Friedman,
Mercury News,
15 May 2026
Adverb
-
Alonso takes this opportunity to shake things up — albeit in a rigorously subtle fashion that will excite his experimentally-minded followers and likely alienate those interested in more traditional narratives.—
Beatrice Loayza,
Variety,
16 May 2026
-
Why Pros Prefer White Linens In addition to looking luxurious, white linens are preferred by pro cleaners and launderers because they can be cleaned more rigorously.—
Shagun Khare,
The Spruce,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Strictly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strictly. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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