strictly

Definition of strictlynext
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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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 strictly Fireworks that launch into the air — such as bottle rockets — dart across the ground or explode are considered dangerous and are strictly prohibited for use. Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 29 June 2026 Lyons stressed the Nancy Pelosi Institute will be strictly nonpartisan. Molly Gibbs, Mercury News, 29 June 2026 But in strictly applying the judge's order, the department is now striking some degrees from the list of professional programs, meaning those students will face lower loan limits. ABC News, 29 June 2026 There are no strictly kiddie rides, and some rides, like the high-flying Swings Over Del Mar and Bello Bay Cruise will thrill any age. Eve Chen, USA Today, 1 July 2026 The Redken Symposium wasn’t all strictly business—in addition to the opening night kick off, there was a Redken Bash on the final evening. Celia Shatzman, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 The outcome will affect California and all the states led by Democrats that strictly regulate or prohibit semiautomatic rifles. Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026 Crisis and renewal are strictly a matter of marketing now, a fiction that permanently assigns the Democrats the role of technocrats managing national decline while Republicans get to stand for muscular optimism and economic expansion. Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026 When Families Start Looking Into Civil Claims A civil claim operates independently of any municipal or state criminal investigation, focusing strictly on securing financial accountability when negligence results in a fatality. William Jones, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strictly
Adverb
  • Jennifer Storms, chief marketing officer for NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, said her team has carefully planned the timing of the spots to coincide with the burst of patriotism and celebration around America 250 events.
    Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 3 July 2026
  • That transition — from looking casually to carefully observing, first with powerful optics and then navigating with the naked eye — is what observational astronomy is all about.
    Jamie Carter, Space.com, 3 July 2026
Adverb
  • Director David Anspaugh, whose resume includes small-town basketball tale Hoosiers and against-all-odds college football biopic Rudy, sticks rigidly to his sporting underdog formula, only skimming the surface of the David-versus-Goliath encounter.
    Jon O'Brien, Vulture, 26 June 2026
  • The Hurricanes play a rigidly structured brand of hockey that makes the game easier to read and anticipate for the goaltender.
    Jesse Granger, New York Times, 25 June 2026
Adverb
  • Seems like far too many appreciate this type of corruption, and making money on SM for lies, is precisely that.
    Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
  • The other six in ten are precisely the population boreout draws from.
    Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Adverb
  • Experts urge organizations to proactively clean data and rigorously audit processes for true equity, recognizing AI simply mirrors historical human decisions.
    Aparna Rae, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
  • Its members were plucked from 120,000 international applicants to be rigorously trained, molded, and manufactured into international superstars through K-pop methodology.
    Elizabeth Gulino, Allure, 25 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Strictly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strictly. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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