stringent
Americanadjective
-
rigorously binding or exacting; strict; severe.
stringent laws.
- Synonyms:
- restrictive
- Antonyms:
- flexible
-
compelling, constraining, or urgent.
stringent necessity.
-
convincing or forcible.
stringent arguments.
-
(of the money market) characterized by a shortage in money for loan or investment purposes; tight.
adjective
-
requiring strict attention to rules, procedure, detail, etc
-
finance characterized by or causing a shortage of credit, loan capital, etc
Synonym Usage
See strict.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of stringent
First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin stringent- (stem of stringēns ), present participle of stringere “to draw tight”; see -ent
Explanation
That teacher's demands are stringent — she wants the homework typed in her favorite font, on special paper, and each essay must be exactly 45 lines! While the word stringent might seem foreign, if you're afflicted with pimples, you'll know the word astringent. An astringent causes your skin to tighten like it's shrinking your pores. This tightening, constricting feel describes stringent with regard to rules. Stringent safety procedures prevent accidents in a dangerous work environment. And restaurants must adhere to stringent health regulations.
Vocabulary lists containing stringent
Essential Academic Vocabulary for High School Students, List 2
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Wonder
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Vocabulary from the Third and Final Presidential Debate, October 19, 2016
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Other countries have taken more stringent steps to limit social media use among young people.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026
But mining associations filed suit, claiming that the standards set by the government to measure compliance are too stringent.
From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026
So many states had repealed so many firearm regulations that the District of Columbia’s stringent handgun ban looked like a true outlier.
From Slate ● Aug. 3, 2026
Singapore, which has stringent rules on public speech and assembly, subsequently said it had indefinitely banned Massive Attack from returning to the country.
From BBC ● Aug. 2, 2026
And there is another smell in the Packard now, above leather and whiskey, a stringent, metallic smell overpowering my grandfather’s deodorant: fear.
From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
