as in tyrant
formal
a person who is very strict and demands obedience from others
The prison's warden was a cruel martinet.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of martinet
The ex-principal of a private school recounts outwitting a troublesome parent—her state’s martinet governor, Brigadier (Hitler) Okon.
—
Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2023
Van Zweden, in turn, was a martinet specialist in the standards who seemed appealing as an about-face from Gilbert, less electric in the core repertory.
—Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2023
Awaiting them at the dock are the martinet of a hotel manager, Valentina (Sabrina Impacciatore), and her staff, putting on an air of practiced friendliness.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2022
The young princess’s father, born Prince Albert, was the excruciatingly shy, stuttering second son of the martinet King George V and the frigidly correct Queen Mary.
—Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 8 Sep. 2022
See all Example Sentences for martinet 
Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2023
Van Zweden, in turn, was a martinet specialist in the standards who seemed appealing as an about-face from Gilbert, less electric in the core repertory.
—Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2023
Awaiting them at the dock are the martinet of a hotel manager, Valentina (Sabrina Impacciatore), and her staff, putting on an air of practiced friendliness.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2022
The young princess’s father, born Prince Albert, was the excruciatingly shy, stuttering second son of the martinet King George V and the frigidly correct Queen Mary.
—Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 8 Sep. 2022
See all Example Sentences for martinet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for martinet
Noun
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Be realistic, however: Talk such as Trump’s could be very useful to those expansionist, rapacious tyrants.—
Jay Nordlinger,
National Review,
15 Jan. 2025
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Sharon Stone plays a gunfighter who ends up in a town called Redemption, ruled with iron fist by a tyrant played by Gene Hackman.—
Brian Tallerico,
Vulture,
6 Jan. 2025
Noun
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His fervor against communism, which was gaining a foothold in nearby Cuba, made the ruthless dictator and his son U.S. allies.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
26 Jan. 2025
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In fact, past experience as a brutal dictator seems to be an important qualification, as both Khan Noonien Singh and Philippa Georgiou have made it past Section 31's vetting procedures.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
24 Jan. 2025
Noun
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After three years with John Fox, Pace didn’t need to fully reset the culture inside Halas Hall and bring in an experienced disciplinarian because Fox had helped clean up the mess left behind by the Phil Emery/Marc Trestman administration.—
Adam Jahns,
The Athletic,
5 Jan. 2025
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There are no old-school disciplinarians in the NFL any longer, but Campbell’s success is based on toughness, winning the one-on-one battles and gambling that his team will be successful on fourth-down plays.—
Steve Silverman,
Forbes,
31 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Garrett is the taskmaster who’s there to keep everyone in line… and Quasi is a little afraid of Georgiou, since her murderous reputation precedes her.—
Dave Nemetz,
TVLine,
24 Jan. 2025
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Your celestial ruler, Venus, will conjunct taskmaster Saturn in Pisces — shaking up your 11th house of associations, community affairs and individual freedom — encouraging you to evaluate your friendship and group dynamics.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
17 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Martinet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/martinet. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
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