straight arrow

noun

: a person who lives by rigidly proper or conventional standards
straight-arrow
ˈstrāt-ˌer-(ˌ)ō How to pronounce straight arrow (audio)
-ˌa-(ˌ)rō
adjective

Examples of straight arrow in a Sentence

He doesn't drink or smoke. He's a real straight arrow.
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.
There’s often some kind of hitch, but still, most agents are straight arrows who play by the book. Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2025 Purdy was such a straight arrow as a kid, his worst transgressions were playing doorbell ditch, Patchett said. Julia Prodis Sulek, The Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2024 David, the straight arrow of the two, is played by Eisenberg in a baseball cap as a vintage Jesse character — earnest and uptight, with a compressed delivery that expresses his nervous nature, yet this is no millennial Woody Allen caricature. Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Jan. 2024 Thirty-year-old Julio (Estrada), a straight arrow who works at a nonprofit for former gang members, still lives with his mom (Laura Patalano) and grandma (Julia Vera) in the South Central L.A. home where he was raised. Time, 12 Oct. 2022 See all Example Sentences for straight arrow 

Word History

Etymology

from the expression straight as an arrow

First Known Use

1956, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of straight arrow was in 1956

Dictionary Entries Near straight arrow

Cite this Entry

“Straight arrow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/straight%20arrow. Accessed 19 Feb. 2025.

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