stringent

[strin-juhnt]

adjective

1. rigorously binding or exacting; strict; severe.

   stringent laws.

   Synonyms: restrictive
   Antonyms: flexible

2. compelling, constraining, or urgent.

   stringent necessity.

3. convincing or forcible.

   stringent arguments.

   Synonyms: effective, powerful, forceful

4. (of the money market) characterized by a shortage in money for loan or investment purposes; tight.

stringent

/ ˈstrɪndʒənt /

adjective

1. requiring strict attention to rules, procedure, detail, etc

2. finance characterized by or causing a shortage of credit, loan capital, etc

Other Word Forms

• stringently adverb
• nonstringent adjective
• unstringent adjective
• unstringently adverb
• stringency noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of stringent¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin stringent- (stem of stringēns ), present participle of stringere “to draw tight”; -ent

Word History and Origins

Origin of stringent¹

C17: from Latin stringere to bind

Synonym Study

See strict.

Example Sentences

In July, Newsom signed into law a rollback of a stringent environmental statute that opponents of new development have used in recent decades to tie up proposed housing projects in litigation, often for years.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

China has reportedly increased stringent checks on U.S. semiconductor shipments at major ports, as per the Financial Times.

Read more on Barron's

“The recycled material must meet the stringent requirements for use in electronic component manufacturing,” said Konstantin Kern, section manager of process utilities at AT&S, an Austrian company that manufactures circuit boards.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Under European Union environmental rules to be phased in from 2028 to 2029, U.S. companies—already subject to stringent enforcement and litigation risk at home—face costly hurdles that will discourage participation in EU markets.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Meshkati’s main concern is that the investigation into this fire may not end up being as thorough and stringent as it could be, especially if the U.S.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• binding 
• demanding 
• draconian 
• exacting 
• forceful 
• harsh 
• inflexible 
• ironclad 
• rigorous 
• severe 
• stiff 
• strict 
• tough