strictly

adverb

Definition of strictlynext
as in carefully
without any relaxation of standards or precision strictly speaking, Columbus did not discover America—the people living there had long known about it the rules must be strictly obeyed

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of strictly Dewey shared that the Renaissance Center that was built in the 1970s was created to be a fortress, strictly for workers not in the community. — Julia Avant, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026 Tehran has said the Strait’s administration should remain strictly between the two coastal states. — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 18 Aug. 2026 But for believers and non-believers alike, the park is undeniably a landmark — and strictly one of a kind. — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 16 Aug. 2026 These vehicles rely on sophisticated computers and software to control many functions that were once strictly mechanical or managed by simpler technology. — Robert Ferris, CNBC, 15 Aug. 2026 Although not strictly required, many practitioners wear robes for their rituals; some groups prefer white robes, although others favor earthy colors like browns and greens. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026 Neither Brock Purdy nor backup quarterback Mac Jones suited up, so if Martinez hadn’t been able to finish out the game, tight end Brayden Willis got prepped for emergency duty that would have entailed strictly handoffs, Shanahan said. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2026 The couple manage to keep these two halves of their existence — so different in temperature and tempo — strictly separate, until an uncharacteristic accident throws them off balance. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 14 Aug. 2026 The glove caused another man’s leg muscles to spasm, although the shock, applied on his forearm, was advertised as being strictly localized. — Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 13 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strictly
  1. carefully
  2. rigidly
  3. precisely
  4. rigorously
Adverb
  • When concerns were raised about this contract, the Town took them seriously, reviewed the matter carefully, and acted promptly based on the findings.
    — Tammy Mutasa, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • But ranchers argue that livestock are carefully managed, while the movements of wild horses are less controlled.
    — Stina Sieg, NPR, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of carefully
Adverb
  • Starting in the nineteen-eighties, forms of identification as proof of citizenship became more rigidly required.
    — Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The acting is passable, more or less, but dialogue is often rigidly expository or cliché or both.
    — Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of rigidly
Adverb
  • There’s no clear explanation for why, precisely, liberals tend to have fewer children than conservatives do.
    — Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The mission also carries instruments from Egypt, Switzerland, Bahrain and Italy; the latter country’s instrument is a small laser retroreflector on the lander that can be used to precisely measure distances from orbiters to the lunar surface.
    — Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of precisely
Adverb
  • The vaccine has been administered in a single dose for more than 40 years and has been rigorously studied.
    — Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Researchers in fusion energy are often aware of the cost of their experiments but Whyte and Lo suggest that accounting of all costs must be done as rigorously as possible.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of rigorously

Browse Nearby Words

strict
strictly
strictness
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Cite this Entry

“Strictly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strictly. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of strictly for Spanish Speakers

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