1
as in strict
given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint
a flinty warrior hardened by years of battle
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in gruff
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance
wrestling opponents intimidating each other with flinty stares
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flinty
Season 1 detailed how Robby—a crinkle-eyed stalwart whose stethoscope seems made of thorns—was still suffering from PTSD from his experiences working during the coronavirus pandemic, while a violent attack from a patient made the otherwise flinty Dana reconsider whether her job was still bearable.
—
Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2026
Yet Seamus Heaney and Ted Hughes, among others, insisted that Brown, whose archaic-modern style telescopes entire epochs into a few flinty lines, belongs among the major twentieth-century bards.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
But Tommila’s turn retains a degree of flinty humor, even some warmth — despite never getting so much as a word to speak.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 21 Nov. 2025
Maria is a wonderfully textured character, at turns flinty and cold and vivacious and funny, and Maura is adept at embodying all sides to this woman.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flinty
Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2026
Yet Seamus Heaney and Ted Hughes, among others, insisted that Brown, whose archaic-modern style telescopes entire epochs into a few flinty lines, belongs among the major twentieth-century bards.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
But Tommila’s turn retains a degree of flinty humor, even some warmth — despite never getting so much as a word to speak.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 21 Nov. 2025
Maria is a wonderfully textured character, at turns flinty and cold and vivacious and funny, and Maura is adept at embodying all sides to this woman.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flinty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flinty
Adjective
-
If strict fidelity gets in the way, it can be treated as immaterial.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
-
Employees who once rejected office culture are now returning to in-person roles, accepting stricter employer demands, delaying entrepreneurial goals, or remaining in emotionally exhausting workplaces because financial risks feel too high.—
Maia Niguel Hoskin,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
But the grizzled former Man in Black and man-who-failed-to-ground-Maverick isn’t known for playing the type of gruff ol’ cowpoke who’s about to break into song.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
14 May 2026
-
The son of a Scottish immigrant, McCluskie had a reputation as a political street fighter and his gruff style complemented Becerra’s more measured, cerebral approach.—
Dakota Smith,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
Each of those teams will be competing for playoff spots again, leaving the Raiders with no easy divisional wins and a tough out-of-division schedule.—
Sam Warren,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
-
The group did just enough against Sale and a tough Braves bullpen to avoid getting shut out for the third time in five games.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
Jansa has been a stern critic of Golob's government, including Slovenia's 2024 recognition of a Palestinian state.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 May 2026
-
Christophe is the spry, imaginative middle child to a stern farmer dad in an economically depressed countryside.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
19 May 2026
Adjective
-
The scheme has been so successful, law enforcement has created a joint FBI-National Security Division task force to disrupt the operations and have dealt a series of harsh prison terms to American accomplices who have willingly aided the North Koreans.—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
14 May 2026
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To fully embody her OnlyFans persona, an earthside alien named The Hungry Ghost, who offers mild nudity and harsh criticism of her willing subscribers’ genitalia.—
Alli Rosenbloom,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
Elsewhere, Juventus was roundly jeered after losing 2-0 at home to fierce rivals Fiorentina, while Como held on for a 1-0 win over Parma to leave Cesc Fàbregas’ team still in with a chance of qualifying for the Champions League just seven years after playing in Italy's fourth division.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 May 2026
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In the remote native villages of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok, on the coast of the Bering Sea, Halong’s fierce flooding lifted homes off their foundations and carried them down a river with people still inside.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
The show, which featured a sizzling performance by Walton Goggins, as an authoritarian vigilante, was an avant-garde breakthrough for television.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
-
Given the authoritarian nature of the government and its control of the media, the full, brutal extent of these crackdowns are never seen by those inside the country, much less by foreigners.—
Alissa Simon,
Variety,
16 May 2026
Adjective
-
But from the outside, there are some grim signs.—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
20 May 2026
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This is the group's latest effort to underscore the grim living conditions of nearly 2 million Palestinians in the coastal territory, suffering from severe shortages of housing, food, and medicine.—
May 19,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flinty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flinty. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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