strict
strict
Pronunciation
strict: /strɪkt/
strɪkt:
/s/: voiceless alveolar fricative
/t/: voiceless alveolar stop
/r/: voiced alveolar approximant
/ɪ/: near-front near-unrounded vowel
/k/: voiceless velar stop
/t/: voiceless alveolar stop
Word Form Variations
Adjective: strict
Adverb: strictly
Noun: strictness
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adjective
strict
Definition: Characterized by demanding adherence to rules, standards, or principles without deviation or leniency.
Synonyms: rigorous, stringent, exacting, firm, severe, authoritarian, unbending
Antonyms: lenient, lax, permissive, tolerant, flexible, easygoing, indulgent
Definition: (Of a rule, law, or agreement) precisely and absolutely binding; allowing no exceptions or modifications.
Synonyms: absolute, precise, exact, definite, rigid, uncompromising
Antonyms: vague, imprecise, loose, approximate, informal
Definition: (Of a classification or interpretation) accurately and literally adhering to the original meaning or category; not open to broad interpretation.
**Synonyms: literal, precise, exact, accurate, faithful
Antonyms: loose, broad, liberal, free, figurative
Examples of Use
Books: "The headmistress maintained a strict disciplinary code, which few students dared to challenge." (From a review of Matilda by Roald Dahl)
Newspapers: "New environmental regulations impose strict limits on industrial emissions." ( The Guardian)
Online Publications: "Many online learning platforms now enforce strict plagiarism checks for submitted assignments." ( EdTech Review)
Entertainment Mediums (Film): In the movie Whiplash, the drumming instructor is depicted as having an incredibly strict and demanding teaching style.
Entertainment Platforms (Television Series): "The cooking competition features a panel of strict judges who expect nothing short of perfection." (Referencing a cooking show)
General Public Discourse: "My parents were always very strict about bedtime when I was a kid."
10 Quotes Using Strict
"I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice." (Abraham Lincoln)
"I have a very strict gun control policy: if there's a gun around, I want to be in control of it." (Clint Eastwood)
"I'm confident to say that if you want to grow in a profession, consistency is the key... I'm strict about my work goals and training." (Eliud Kipchoge)
"I'm a strict, strict agnostic. It's very different from a casual, 'I don't know.' It's that you cannot present as knowledge something that is not knowledge." (Margaret Atwood)
"Push-ups, sit-ups, and a strict diet of raisins. That's my plan." (Jack Black)
"My parents were very strict Muslims, and they weren't shy about showing it." (Sam Esmail)
"Logic: The art of thinking and reasoning in strict accordance with the limitations and incapacities of the human misunderstanding." (Ambrose Bierce)
"Remember, as long as you live, that nothing but strict truth can carry you through the world, with either your conscience or your honor unwounded." (Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield)
"Democracy is liberty - a liberty which does not infringe on the liberty nor encroach on the rights of others; a liberty which maintains strict discipline, and makes law its guarantee and the basis of its exercise." (Chiang Kai-shek)
"If we do not discipline ourselves the world will do it for us. Control from without flourishes when discipline from within grows weak." (William Feather)
Etymology
The word "strict" comes from the Latin word "strictus," which is the past participle of the verb "stringere."
"Stringere" meant to "draw tight, bind, tie, compress, or grasp firmly."
So, when we look at the origin, "strict" originally had the sense of something being drawn tight, bound, or held firmly.
The first known use of "strict" in English, with a meaning similar to how we use it today, appeared in the early 15th century. At that time, it referred to something that was "rigorous, severe, or exact" – essentially, something that was tightly constrained or held to a high standard, much like something bound tightly wouldn't allow for much wiggle room.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Strict
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "strict" or its synonyms for a similar effect:
Strict as a drill sergeant: Very demanding and disciplined.
A strict interpretation: Adhering precisely to the literal meaning.
Under strict orders: Required to follow instructions precisely and without deviation.
Strict confidence: Keeping information absolutely private.
Strict discipline: Rigorous and firm control or training.
To run a tight ship: To manage something, like an organization or household, in a very orderly and efficient way, often implying strictness.
By the book: Strictly adhering to rules or procedures.
On the straight and narrow: Living a life that is honest and morally upright, often implying adherence to strict rules.
To toe the line: To conform to rules or standards.
To draw a hard line: To establish a firm and unyielding limit or rule.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of strict from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
