Stickler: meaning, definitions and examples

Use this word to describe someone who insists on something in a very strict and precise manner, often regarding rules or details.

• She is a stickler for punctuality and expects everyone to be on time.
• The teacher is a stickler for proper grammar in every assignment.

Refers to someone who strives for or demands perfection, often in their own work. This can be either positive or negative depending on the context.

• As a perfectionist, she spent hours making sure every detail of her project was flawless.
• Sometimes being a perfectionist can be stressful because you never feel satisfied with your work.

This word describes someone who is overly critical about small or minor details. It often carries a negative connotation.

• He’s such a nitpicker; he always finds something trivial to complain about.
• Don't be a nitpicker; the presentation was great overall.

This term is used for someone who insists on traditional or original practices, often in areas like art, language, or food.

• He’s a coffee purist and refuses to drink anything but black coffee.
• As a language purist, she dislikes the use of slang.

Someone who insists on strict adherence to rules or standards, often in an exacting or meticulous way.

• She's a stickler for punctuality and expects everyone to be on time.
• John is a stickler when it comes to grammar and will correct every mistake.

Someone who places high importance on precision and exactness, often in a particular area or task.

• As a stickler for accuracy, she double-checks all her calculations.
• He’s a stickler for accuracy in measuring ingredients when cooking.

Someone who rigorously implements rules, regulations, or laws, often carrying a sense of authority and sometimes a negative connotation.

• The new manager is a strict enforcer of company policies, ensuring everyone complies.
• The traffic warden is a strict enforcer when it comes to parking regulations.

A person who strictly follows rules, traditions, or principles without flexibility, emphasizing a more unyielding attitude.

• He is a rigid adherent to the company’s dress code, never allowing any deviations.
• A rigid adherent to their dietary regimen, they never indulge in cheat days.