as in enforcer
a person who is very strict about punishing bad behavior; a person who uses discipline as a way of making sure that rules or orders are obeyed
The school's principal is a strict disciplinarian.
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Recent Examples of disciplinarian
The 45-year-old wife, accused of being the primary disciplinarian, was sentenced to 12 years in prison, while the 43-year-old husband received a 10-year sentence.
—
Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 14 Jan. 2025
After three years with John Fox, Pace didn’t need to fully reset the culture inside Halas Hall and bring in an experienced disciplinarian because Fox had helped clean up the mess left behind by the Phil Emery/Marc Trestman administration.
—Adam Jahns, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025
There are no old-school disciplinarians in the NFL any longer, but Campbell’s success is based on toughness, winning the one-on-one battles and gambling that his team will be successful on fourth-down plays.
—Steve Silverman, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
Then again, look across the NFL landscape and find an old-school disciplinarian prowling a sideline.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for disciplinarian
Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 14 Jan. 2025
After three years with John Fox, Pace didn’t need to fully reset the culture inside Halas Hall and bring in an experienced disciplinarian because Fox had helped clean up the mess left behind by the Phil Emery/Marc Trestman administration.
—Adam Jahns, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025
There are no old-school disciplinarians in the NFL any longer, but Campbell’s success is based on toughness, winning the one-on-one battles and gambling that his team will be successful on fourth-down plays.
—Steve Silverman, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
Then again, look across the NFL landscape and find an old-school disciplinarian prowling a sideline.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for disciplinarian
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disciplinarian
Noun
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But even with that, the Broncos saw him as a priority free agent in the offseason — a player who could be an enforcer alongside Jones, and add depth to a safety corps that showed cracks at times last season.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
24 July 2025
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And seems certain to approve Miami’s move to sign Rodrigo de Paul as Messi’s midfield enforcer, a loan with a purchase option that may technically conform to MLS roster rules but certainly not their spirit.—
Ian Nicholas Quillen,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
Noun
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On July 13, taskmaster Saturn will station retrograde in Aries, presenting the opportunity to recalibrate and refocus.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
12 July 2025
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Revolutionize management: Move from taskmaster to coach.—
Lori Huss,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
Noun
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The Boys mothership show is heading towards its fifth and final season, premiering next year, and so far, no one seems powerful enough to take down the dictator supe.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
25 July 2025
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In 2003: Qusay and Uday Hussein, sons of Iraqi dictator Sadam Hussein, were killed by U.S. Special Forces and infantrymen from 101st Airborne after a three-hour firefight in the city of Mosul, Iraq.—
Lorenzino Estrada,
AZCentral.com,
23 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Disciplinarian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disciplinarian. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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