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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Recent Examples of martinet
The ex-principal of a private school recounts outwitting a troublesome parent—her state’s martinet governor, Brigadier (Hitler) Okon.
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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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The Middle East is a region of tyrants, from Iran to Saudi Arabia.John Feffer, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
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Some tyrants just can’t resist meddling with the calendar.Jack Butler, National Review, 28 Nov. 2024
Noun
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More specifically, in Europe the top three destinations for dictators are Russia, the UK and France!Mike O'Sullivan, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
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When Assad’s reign ended on Sunday, the dictator fled to Moscow, where Russian President Vladimir Putin granted him asylum.Michael Collins, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Their father, Jack, was a strict disciplinarian and a heavy drinker, while their mother, Katherine, was a housewife with a history of depression, according to court documents.Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 17 Dec. 2024
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The elder Corcoran was a strict disciplinarian and a heavy drinker, according to court documents.Kristine Phillips, The Indianapolis Star, 12 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Managers have a choice: remain taskmasters or become builders of talent.Nirit Cohen, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
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When the Jets had bombastic and playful Rex Ryan as their coach, the Giants had stern taskmaster Tom Coughlin.Mike Sando, The Athletic, 25 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Martinet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/martinet. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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