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Synonyms

strict

American  
[strikt] / strɪkt /

adjective

stricter, strictest
  1. characterized by or acting in close conformity to requirements or principles.

    a strict observance of rituals.

    Synonyms:
    austere, harsh, illiberal, narrow
    Antonyms:
    lax, flexible
  2. stringent or exacting in or in enforcing rules, requirements, obligations, etc..

    strict laws; a strict judge.

  3. closely or rigorously enforced or maintained.

    strict silence.

  4. exact or precise.

    a strict statement of facts.

    Synonyms:
    scrupulous, accurate
  5. extremely defined or conservative; narrowly or carefully limited.

    a strict construction of the Constitution.

  6. close, careful, or minute.

    a strict search.

  7. absolute, perfect, or complete; utmost.

    told in strict confidence.

  8. stern; severe; austere.

    strict parents.

  9. Obsolete. drawn tight or close.


strict British  
/ strɪkt /

adjective

  1. adhering closely to specified rules, ordinances, etc

    a strict faith

  2. complied with or enforced stringently; rigorous

    a strict code of conduct

  3. severely correct in attention to rules of conduct or morality

    a strict teacher

  4. (of a punishment, etc) harsh; severe

  5. (prenominal) complete; absolute

    in strict secrecy

  6. logic maths

    1. applying more narrowly than some other relation often given the same name, as strict inclusion, which holds only between pairs of sets that are distinct, while simple inclusion permits the case in which they are identical See also proper ordering

    2. distinguished from a relation of the same name that is not the subject of formal study

  7. rare botany very straight, narrow, and upright

    strict panicles

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

Strict, rigid, rigorous, stringent imply inflexibility, severity, and an exacting quality. Strict implies great exactness, especially in the observance or enforcement of rules: strict discipline. Rigid, literally stiff or unbending, applies to that which is (often unnecessarily or narrowly) inflexible: rigid economy. Rigorous, with the same literal meaning, applies to that which is severe, exacting, and uncompromising, especially in action or application: rigorous self-denial. Stringent applies to that which is vigorously exacting and severe: stringent measures to suppress disorder.

Other Word Forms

  • overstrict adjective
  • strictly adverb
  • strictness noun
  • superstrict adjective
  • superstrictly adverb
  • superstrictness noun
  • unstrict adjective
  • unstrictly adverb
  • unstrictness noun

Etymology

Origin of strict

First recorded in 1570–80; from Latin strictus, equivalent to strig-, variant stem of stringere “to draw tight” + -tus past participle suffix

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Horning said he grew up in a strict Seventh-day Adventist household in Northern California, forbidden from reading anything other than the Bible and approved nonfiction.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Many academics and research institutes technically violate the terms of service in a strict interpretation,” Lambert said.

From MarketWatch

He also survived the 2022-2023 "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement sparked by the death in custody of Iranian Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini, who had been arrested for allegedly violating the strict dress code for women.

From Barron's

The translation system follows this one to one relationship with strict consistency.

From Science Daily

She dubs the all-women’s institution a “kiln of respectability” and doesn’t mind the strict curfews and dress code because she revels in being part of the powerful “Spelman sisterhood.”

From The Wall Street Journal