STRICT

stern, strict, exacting

(adjective) severe and unremitting in making demands; “an exacting instructor”; “a stern disciplinarian”; “strict standards”

rigorous, strict

(adjective) rigidly accurate; allowing no deviation from a standard; “rigorous application of the law”; “a strict vegetarian”

nonindulgent, strict

(adjective) characterized by strictness, severity, or restraint

rigid, strict

(adjective) incapable of compromise or flexibility

strict, hard-and-fast

(adjective) (of rules) stringently enforced; “hard-and-fast rules”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Adjective

strict (comparative stricter, superlative strictest)

Strained; drawn close; tight.

Tense; not relaxed.

Exact; accurate; precise; rigorously particular.

Governed or governing by exact rules; observing exact rules; severe; rigorous.

Rigidly interpreted; exactly limited; confined; restricted.

(botany) Upright, or straight and narrow; — said of the shape of the plants or their flower clusters.

Severe in discipline.

(set theory, order theory) Irreflexive; if the described object is defined to be reflexive, that condition is overridden and replaced with irreflexive.

Usage notes

• Stricter and strictest are the grammatically correct forms for the comparative and superlative though outside UK more strict and most strict are more often used.

Antonyms

• lenient

• lax

• permissive

Source: Wiktionary

Strict, a. [Compar. Stricter; superl. Strictest.] Etym: [L. strictus, p.p. of stringere to draw or bind tight, to strain. See Strain, and cf. Strait, a.]

1. Strained; drawn close; tight; as, a strict embrace; a strict ligature. Dryden.

2. Tense; not relaxed; as, a strict fiber.

3. Exact; accurate; precise; rigorously nice; as, to keep strict watch; to pay strict attention. Shak. It shall be still in strictest measure. Milton.

4. Governed or governing by exact rules; observing exact rules; severe; rigorous; as, very strict in observing the Sabbath. "Through the strict senteries." Milton.

5. Rigidly; interpreted; exactly limited; confined; restricted; as, to understand words in a strict sense.

6. (Bot.)

Definition: Upright, or straight and narrow; -- said of the shape of the plants or their flower clusters.

Syn.

– Exact; accurate; nice; close; rigorous; severe.

– Strict, Severe. Strict, applied to a person, denotes that he conforms in his motives and acts to a principle or code by which he is bound; severe is strict with an implication often, but not always, of harshness. Strict is opposed to lax; severe is opposed to gentle. And rules as strict his labored work confine, As if the Stagirite o'erlooked each line. Pope. Soon moved with touch of blame, thus Eve: -"What words have passed thy lips, Adam severe!" Milton. The Strict Observance, or Friars of the Strict Observance. (R. C. Ch.) See Observance.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition