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View synonyms for strict

strict

[ strikt ]

adjective

, strict·er, strict·est.
  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

/ 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 of a relation
    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


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Derived Forms

  • ˈstrictness, noun
  • ˈstrictly, adverb
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Other Words From

  • strictness noun
  • over·strict adjective
  • super·strict adjective
  • super·strictly adverb
  • super·strictness noun
  • un·strict adjective
  • un·strictly adverb
  • un·strictness noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of strict1

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

Origin of strict1

C16: from Latin strictus, from stringere to draw tight
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Synonym Study

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.
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Example Sentences

Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari advocates for a six-week shutdown stricter than state orders back in March.

From Fortune

In its first official weigh-in on the issue, the group lays out strict scientific criteria that would need to be met before heritable gene editing could be tried clinically.

I was raised in a Muslim household with quite strict Muslim rules and Islamic rules, and one of them is that we don’t do interest.

From Ozy

The Hatch Act of 1939 puts strict limits on federal employees’ ability to participate in electioneering, including a ban on using their “official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with or affecting the result of an election.”

From Vox

This includes designing strict procedures for how a lab should conduct the tests.

From Fortune

The ad would then count as a coordinated communication and would be subject to strict spending limits.

First, it would reduce the kinds of ads that would be subject to strict limits.

People often forget that the National Panhellenic council used to enforce racial segregation by means of strict codes and laws.

Free from strict rules, Japanese distillers are making innovative, artful concoctions.

But beyond the strict realm of national security, the Arctic is becoming increasingly important to Russia economically.

For these reasons we keep strict and careful watch over them, since the suspicions conceived of them have been often verified.

In a strict sense, of course, no child's drawing is absolutely spontaneous and independent of external stimulus and guidance.

But it was not necessary for him to enquire how strict, or how apparently long, was to be his confinement.

How strict a Guard then ought the true Satyrist to set upon his private Passions!

"According to English ideas it seemed strict, of course," the other said persuasively, so that he went on.

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