stickler

American

[stik-ler] / ˈstɪk lər /

noun

a person who insists on something unyieldingly (usually followed byfor ).

a stickler for ceremony.

Synonyms:

perfectionist, purist, fanatic
any puzzling or difficult problem.

Synonyms:

mystery, riddle, puzzle

stickler British

/ ˈstɪklə /

noun

(usually foll by for) a person who makes insistent demands

a stickler for accuracy
a problem or puzzle

the investigation proved to be a stickler

"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

Etymology

Origin of stickler

First recorded in 1530–40; stickle + -er ¹

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.

My father, a World War II officer and stickler for correctness, was especially proud of my medal.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 4, 2026

You seem to be a stickler for detail, so that came as a surprise.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 27, 2025

Samuel Beckett, a stickler for faithfulness, didn’t share this laissez-faire attitude toward his stage directions, which he expected to be punctiliously observed by others.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 7, 2025

In my own home, this year, I became much more of a stickler about wasting food.

From Salon • Jan. 5, 2025

Always the stickler about staying in character, she had not called me Nell since we left Chicago.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023