stricter
stricter — adjective
- stricterpositive
- stricterercomparative
- stricterestsuperlative
1. Used to describe rules, punishments, or people in authority that are more severe
Used to describe rules, punishments, or people in authority that are more severe than before or than others — giving less freedom and punishing disobedience more harshly.
Sirin's parents are much stricter than her friends' parents about homework deadlines.
stricter than + about + noun
After the fire, the school introduced stricter safety rules for the science lab.
introduced stricter [rules]
Aoi found the driving test in Tokyo stricter than her hometown's, especially on blind-spot checks.
The head teacher announced stricter penalties for anyone caught cheating on exams.
- more lenient
gives more freedom and lighter punishment
- looser
less tightly controlled; more informal
文法句型
stricter than [noun phrase]
stricter about [noun/gerund]
stricter with [person]
用法筆記
Commonly used with 'about' (stricter about something), 'with' (stricter with someone), and 'than' (stricter than someone/something).
常見錯誤
2. More accurate and detailed, allowing no room for mistakes or variation from what
More accurate and detailed, allowing no room for mistakes or variation from what is considered correct. Used when talking about definitions, translations, measurements, or standards of correctness.
A stricter translation of the French phrase would use 'yearn for' rather than 'miss.'
stricter translation of [phrase]
The Oxford Dictionary defines 'proof' more strictly than most people do — requiring actual physical evidence, not just a story.
Dario's math teacher insists on stricter accuracy than his previous teacher did, deducting points for missing steps.
The marine lab now uses a stricter method to measure carbon in seawater than it did five years ago.
- more accurate
focuses on truth and correctness rather than narrowness
- more precise
emphasises exactness and attention to fine details
- tighter
suggests less margin for error; slightly informal
文法句型
a stricter [noun] of [something]
stricter than [alternative]
用法筆記
Often paired with nouns like 'definition,' 'translation,' 'reading,' 'interpretation,' or 'standard' — the stricter version is the one that allows fewer exceptions.
常見錯誤
3. Describing a person or community that more closely follows the teachings, belief
Describing a person or community that more closely follows the teachings, beliefs, or customs of their own religion, philosophy, or moral code — allowing fewer exceptions than others in matters of personal conviction.
The monastery follows a stricter version of the tradition than the village temple does.
follows a stricter version of [tradition]
Maeve's grandparents were stricter about religious practices than her parents are.
stricter about [practice]
The rabbi follows a stricter interpretation of the dietary laws than most members of the congregation.
Samir's community takes a stricter view of certain traditions than neighboring villages.
- more devout
specifically about religious faith, not general rules
- more orthodox
indicates following the traditional, accepted form of a belief
- more rigorous
suggests thoroughness and discipline in following rules
- more relaxed
less concerned with exact following of rules
- more liberal
allows wider interpretation of beliefs and practices
文法句型
stricter about [belief/practice]
stricter than [person/group]
stricter in [something]
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1 (RULES & DISCIPLINE), which is about enforcing rules on others, this sense describes personally adhering to a belief system or moral code.
常見錯誤
4. Describing the narrowest or most literal meaning of a term, as distinct from its
Describing the narrowest or most literal meaning of a term, as distinct from its broader everyday use — covering fewer cases than a looser interpretation would.
In the stricter sense of the word, a 'cereal' must come from a grass plant.
in the stricter sense of [word]
An entomologist uses a stricter definition of 'bug' than most people — limiting it to insects of the order Hemiptera.
stricter definition of [word]
A stricter definition of 'bilingual' requires equal fluency from early childhood, unlike looser everyday use.
Hao explained that in a stricter sense, 'democracy' requires more than just voting.
- more literal
focuses on the most basic, non-figurative meaning
- narrower
implies a more restricted scope of meaning
文法句型
in the stricter sense
the stricter sense of [word]
strictest sense
用法筆記
Almost always appears in set phrases like 'in the strictest sense' or 'strictly speaking.' The superlative 'strictest' is more common than the comparative 'stricter' in this sense.