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
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Recent Examples of strictly
Buahan is strictly adults-only and won’t welcome guests below 18 years of age.
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2026
Those living with Type 2 diabetes tend to have coverage through insurance, while those looking to use GLP-1s strictly for weight loss have a harder time finding coverage.
—Kate Tully Ellsworth, USA Today, 30 Mar. 2026
While short-term rentals are strictly regulated in the City of San Diego, the same restrictions are not applied to unincorporated areas.
—Hannah Elsmore, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
What’s most notable, though, is that Vitello said there was no consideration to going to his bench, which is composed strictly of right-handed hitters.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 29 Mar. 2026
Please note that this exclusive welcome bonus is reserved strictly for new Underdog customers.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026
Even verbal or written contact is strictly limited and documented once the crucial part of the bidding evaluation begins.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
This kind of love is not strictly (or even necessarily) a feeling or emotion; it is directed toward the good of others, even at a cost to oneself.
—Big Think, 26 Mar. 2026
None of this was strictly automated, either, which feels like a recurring theme.
—Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 25 Mar. 2026
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2026
Those living with Type 2 diabetes tend to have coverage through insurance, while those looking to use GLP-1s strictly for weight loss have a harder time finding coverage.
—Kate Tully Ellsworth, USA Today, 30 Mar. 2026
While short-term rentals are strictly regulated in the City of San Diego, the same restrictions are not applied to unincorporated areas.
—Hannah Elsmore, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
What’s most notable, though, is that Vitello said there was no consideration to going to his bench, which is composed strictly of right-handed hitters.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 29 Mar. 2026
Please note that this exclusive welcome bonus is reserved strictly for new Underdog customers.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026
Even verbal or written contact is strictly limited and documented once the crucial part of the bidding evaluation begins.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
This kind of love is not strictly (or even necessarily) a feeling or emotion; it is directed toward the good of others, even at a cost to oneself.
—Big Think, 26 Mar. 2026
None of this was strictly automated, either, which feels like a recurring theme.
—Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 25 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strictly
Adverb
-
For the most part, royal families dress very carefully; in keeping with their formal dress codes, their wardrobe choices are usually thoughtfully selected, with subtle theming or references, as well as more overt tributes via color or jewelry choice.—
Katherine J Igoe,
InStyle,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Some of the imagery seen by Ferreira’s character is genuine content culled from online, carefully trimmed.—
Mark Olsen,
Twin Cities,
5 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Now, when a ball-strike call is challenged, the strike zone will be rigidly defined based on a batter’s height.—
Juliette Arcodia,
NBC news,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Handling has been sharpened by rigidly mounting the rear subframe and reworking the Bilstein dampers.—
Basem Wasef,
Robb Report,
25 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
Patterns were planned so precisely that every inch of fabric ended up in the garment, nothing left on the floor, nothing headed for a landfill.—
Itay Hod,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Prior to the translunar injection, the crew completed a perigee raise burn to position the spacecraft in the correct orbital geometry for the maneuver, ensuring the engine firing would place Orion precisely on its intended path.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
3 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Tens of millions of people — especially in Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia — even now prefer the Beeb’s foreign language news to the local variety, rigorously censored by their own governments.—
Max Hastings,
Mercury News,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The Florida Injury Advocate legal team stays rigorously current on these developments and advises every client on how the current framework applies specifically to their unique situation.—
Anton Lucanus
April 3,
Miami Herald,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Strictly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strictly. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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