sticklers

noun

plural of stickler
as in disciplinarians
a person who believes that something is very important and should be done or followed all the time Her father was a stickler about arriving on time.

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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 sticklers Yes, some sticklers would insist that greatly should never stand between to and excel. — Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026 The people charged with inspecting it pre-rental aren’t always sticklers for detail, and sometimes miss large scratches and dings. — Matt Meltzer, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Jan. 2024 As carry-on only travelers, Ryan and I are sticklers about efficient packing. — Kristine Thomason, Travel + Leisure, 23 Aug. 2025 Regardless of what legal-ethics sticklers might think of its business model, the 156-person startup has been growing quickly. — Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025 The rise of the grammar sticklers Many of today’s ideas about what constitutes correct English are based on a singular – often mistaken – 19th-century view of the forces that govern our language. — Valerie M. Fridland, The Conversation, 21 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sticklers
  1. disciplinarians
  2. purists
  3. taskmasters
Noun
  • You are asked to be teachers, counselors, social workers, disciplinarians, mentors, advocates, crisis managers and emotional anchors for children navigating an increasingly complicated world.
    — Susana A. Mendoza, Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2026
Definition of disciplinarians
Noun
  • This year, blessedly free of injury, Muchová has belatedly been able to play the kind of tennis that makes purists purr.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 5 July 2026
  • Some soccer purists grumbled about the World Cup expanding this year from 32 to 48 teams.
    — Michael Cunningham, AJC.com, 29 June 2026
Definition of purists
Noun
  • Work is work, and there’s writerly reward, too, in daily encounters with a diverse range of taskmasters across all social groups.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 29 Aug. 2025
Definition of taskmasters

Browse Nearby Words

stickler
sticklers
stick out
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Cite this Entry

“Sticklers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sticklers. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sticklers

Nglish: Translation of sticklers for Spanish Speakers

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