Strict — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈstrikt/

Meaning & Definition of Strict

Strict (adjective)

  1. stringent in requirement or control
  2. severe in discipline
  3. inflexibly maintained or adhered to

Strict (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. following an original exactly

    "not a strict translation, because a lot of the humor is in the wordplay"

    similar: accurate, authentic, exact, faithful, precise, right, true, veracious
    related: lifelike, realistic, careful, conscientious, meticulous, punctilious, scrupulous, authoritative, bona fide, genuine, real, veridical
    opposite: corrupt, corrupted, false, imprecise, inaccurate, inauthentic, inexact, loose, unfaithful
    near: careless, slack, slipshod, slovenly, erroneous, incorrect, invalid, off, unsound, untrue, untruthful, wrong

  2. given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint

    "that piano teacher is notoriously strict, but students make great strides under her tutelage"

    similar: austere, authoritarian, flinty, hard, harsh, heavy-handed, ramrod, rigid, rigorous, severe, stern, tough
    related: demanding, exacting, uncharitable, unforgiving, adamant, adamantine, callous, hardened, hard-hearted, hard-line, immovable, implacable, inflexible, merciless, ossified, pitiless, relentless, rock-ribbed, stiff, unbending, uncompromising, unrelenting, unsparing, unyielding, dour, gruff, ascetic, monastic, monkish, browbeating, bullying, determined, firm, resolved, single-minded, steadfast, unflinching, dogged, intractable, obstinate
    opposite: clement, forbearing, gentle, indulgent, lax, lenient, tolerant
    near: easy, easygoing, laid-back, undemanding, charitable, kind, merciful, mild, patient, soft, softhearted, accepting, compromising, yielding, responsive, willing, acquiescent, agreeable, amenable, complaisant, compliant, flexible, pliable, pliant

  3. not allowing for any exceptions or loosening of standards

    "on a strict diet"

    "strict adherence to the letter of the law"

    similar: brassbound, cast-iron, exacting, hard-line, inflexible, rigid, rigorous, stringent, uncompromising
    related: close, conscientious, exact, fussy, meticulous, painstaking, punctilious, scrupulous, undeviating, adamant, adamantine, determined, dogged, firm, relentless, resolved, single-minded, steadfast, stubborn, tenacious, unbending, unflinching, immovable, implacable, unappeasable, unrelenting, unsparing, unyielding, austere, demanding, flinty, grim, hard, hardened, hard-hearted, harsh, ironbound, severe, stern, tough
    opposite: flexible, lax, loose, relaxed, slack
    near: acquiescent, compliant, compromising, pliable, pliant, relenting, yielding, easy, easygoing, gentle, indulgent, kindly, lenient, merciful, mild, pampering, soft, spoiling, tolerant, neglectful, negligent, remiss, slipshod, sloppy, slovenly, unfussy

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Strict

The most common words with a similar meaning to Strict:

accurate, authentic, exact, faithful, precise, right, true, veracious, austere, authoritarian, flinty, hard, harsh, heavy-handed, ramrod, rigid, rigorous, severe, stern, tough, brassbound, cast-iron, exacting, hard-line, inflexible, stringent, uncompromising

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Strict

Words with the opposite meaning of Strict:

corrupt, corrupted, false, imprecise, inaccurate, inauthentic, inexact, loose, unfaithful, clement, forbearing, gentle, indulgent, lax, lenient, tolerant, flexible, relaxed, slack

Related Words for Strict

lifelike, realistic, careful, conscientious, meticulous, punctilious, scrupulous, authoritative, bona fide, genuine, real, veridical, demanding, uncharitable, unforgiving, adamant, adamantine, callous, hardened, hard-hearted, immovable, implacable, merciless, ossified, pitiless, relentless, rock-ribbed, stiff, unbending, unrelenting

Near Antonyms of Strict

careless, slipshod, slovenly, erroneous, incorrect, invalid, off, unsound, untrue, untruthful, wrong, easy, easygoing, laid-back, undemanding, charitable, kind, merciful, mild, patient, soft, softhearted, accepting, compromising, yielding, responsive, willing, acquiescent, agreeable, amenable

Word Forms of Strict

Derived words: strictly (adverb), strictness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Strict

Middle English stricte, from Latin strictus, from past participle of stringere to bind tight strain

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Strict

Words & Phrases Containing Strict

strict liability, in strict/strictest confidence, in the strict/strictest sense (of the word)

Frequently Asked Questions about Strict

What does "Strict" mean?

"Strict" means stringent in requirement or control. As an adjective, it is defined as: stringent in requirement or control. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Strict"?

Other words for "Strict" include accurate, authentic, exact, faithful, precise, right, true and veracious. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Strict" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Strict"?

There are 84 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Strict". Common alternatives include accurate, authentic, exact, faithful, precise, right, true, veracious, austere and authoritarian.

What is the opposite of "Strict"?

Antonyms of "Strict" include corrupt, corrupted, false, imprecise, inaccurate, inauthentic, inexact and loose. Near antonyms include careless, slipshod, slovenly and erroneous.

How do you use "Strict" in a sentence?

Examples of "Strict" in a sentence: "not a strict translation, because a lot of the humor is in the wordplay"; "that piano teacher is notoriously strict, but students make great strides under her tutelage"; "on a strict diet".

Is "Strict" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Strict" is an adjective.

Is "Strict" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Strict" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+.

How do you pronounce "Strict"?

"Strict" is pronounced /ˈstrikt/.