stickler

noun

stick·​ler ˈsti-k(ə-)lər How to pronounce stickler (audio)
1
: one who insists on exactness or completeness in the observance of something
a stickler for the rules
2
: something that baffles or puzzles : poser

Examples of stickler in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
If a person is a stickler for measuring, Sergentakis recommended adding 10 grams of salt per liter of cooking water. Christine Rousselle, Fox News, 2 Jan. 2025 Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, going back to his days with the Tampa Bay Rays, is a stickler for defense. Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic, 1 July 2024 Adams, the first Black woman to receive the lieutenant colonel rank, was a stickler for a pristine uniform. Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 12 Dec. 2024 Between the lines: When the job market was hot, employers were afraid of losing talent by being sticklers on seemingly minor rules, Erin Grau, cofounder of Charter, a future of work media firm, tells Axios. Emily Peck, Axios, 1 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for stickler 

Word History

First Known Use

1799, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of stickler was in 1799

Dictionary Entries Near stickler

Cite this Entry

“Stickler.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stickler. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

stickler

noun
stick·​ler ˈstik-(ə-)lər How to pronounce stickler (audio)
1
: a person who insists on exactness or completeness in the observance of something
a stickler for the rules
2
: something that baffles or puzzles

More from Merriam-Webster on stickler

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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