strict

[ strikt ]

/ strɪkt /

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adjective, strict·er, strict·est.

characterized by or acting in close conformity to requirements or principles: a strict observance of rituals.

stringent or exacting in or in enforcing rules, requirements, obligations, etc.: strict laws; a strict judge.

closely or rigorously enforced or maintained: strict silence.

exact or precise: a strict statement of facts.

extremely defined or conservative; narrowly or carefully limited: a strict construction of the Constitution.

close, careful, or minute: a strict search.

absolute, perfect, or complete; utmost: told in strict confidence.

stern; severe; austere: strict parents.

Obsolete. drawn tight or close.

Words nearby strict

striatum, strick, stricken, strickland, strickle, strict, striction, strictly, strictly decreasing function, strictly increasing function, stricture

Origin of strict

1570–80; < Latin strictus, equivalent to strig-, variant stem of stringere to draw tight + -tus past participle suffix

SYNONYMS FOR strict

1 narrow, illiberal, harsh, austere. 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.

4 accurate, scrupulous.

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ANTONYMS FOR strict

1 flexible, lax.

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OTHER WORDS FROM strict

strict·ness, nouno·ver·strict, adjectivesu·per·strict, adjectivesu·per·strict·ly, adverb

su·per·strict·ness, nounun·strict, adjectiveun·strict·ly, adverbun·strict·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for strictest

Despite global unrest, the 2014 election may not be a “foreign policy election” in the strictest sense.
Will World Chaos Sink the Dems?|Kristen Soltis Anderson|September 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And it never seemed wrong, since I was copying myself and not even my strictest teachers had ever told me that was wrong.
There’s Nothing Wrong—and a Lot That’s Right—About Copying Other Artists|Malcolm Jones|January 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Japan has some of the strictest gun-control laws in the world.
The Great Japanese Gang Wars|Jake Adelstein, Nathalie-Kyoko Stucky|June 25, 2013|DAILY BEAST
In our country, the states with the strictest gun laws have the lowest rates of gun crime.
Why the South Loves Guns|David Sessions|December 16, 2012|DAILY BEAST

Iran was hit with some of the strictest sanctions ever imposed on a nation.
Bibi’s Three Steps Forward, One Back|Trita Parsi|October 11, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Though an act of apparent rebellion, yet it was in the strictest sense an act of loyalty.
The Loyalists of America and Their Times, Vol. 1 of 2|Egerton Ryerson
Her means were limited, and the strictest economy was necessary to make their narrow income meet their present wants.
Clemence|Retta Babcock
Hence, in the strictest sense, religion holds the scales of justice between masters and slaves.
Lectures on the Philosophy and Practice of Slavery|William A. Smith
I thought myself the only person who knew that fact—a fact which the Crown-Prince had revealed to me in the strictest secrecy.
The Secrets of Potsdam|William Le Queux
Probably the influence of the clergyman, and the presence of strangers kept all within the strictest rules of decorum.
Letters from Spain|Joseph Blanco White

British Dictionary definitions for strictest

strict

/ (strɪkt) /

adjective

adhering closely to specified rules, ordinances, etca strict faith

complied with or enforced stringently; rigorousa strict code of conduct

severely correct in attention to rules of conduct or moralitya strict teacher

(of a punishment, etc) harsh; severe

(prenominal) complete; absolutein strict secrecy

logic maths (of a relation)

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 identicalSee also proper (def. 9), ordering
distinguished from a relation of the same name that is not the subject of formal study

botany rare very straight, narrow, and uprightstrict panicles

Derived forms of strict

strictly, adverbstrictness, noun

Word Origin for strict

C16: from Latin strictus, from stringere to draw tight

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

strict

adjective, strict·er, strict·est.

Words related to strict

Words nearby strict

Origin of strict

SYNONYMS FOR strict

ANTONYMS FOR strict

OTHER WORDS FROM strict

Examples from the Web for strictest

British Dictionary definitions for strictest

adjective

Derived forms of strict

Word Origin for strict