flinty

adjective

ˈflin-tē How to pronounce flinty (audio)
Definition of flintynext
1
as in strict
given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint a flinty warrior hardened by years of battle

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in gruff
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance wrestling opponents intimidating each other with flinty stares

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of flinty Sporting Robert Shaw’s distinctive fisherman’s cap, flinty and crooked grin, and swarthy mutton-chop sideburns, Gildart Jackson’s is an evocative portrayal of Robert Shaw. — Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 10 Mar. 2026 Eva is a complex character, flinty and businesslike, deadly serious about her mission and willing to make ethical compromises to move it forward. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026 Ahn is sharper and flintier, but conveys the anxiety and mounting pressures Emily is facing quite well. — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 28 Jan. 2026 Season 1 detailed how Robby—a crinkle-eyed stalwart whose stethoscope seems made of thorns—was still suffering from PTSD from his experiences working during the coronavirus pandemic, while a violent attack from a patient made the otherwise flinty Dana reconsider whether her job was still bearable. — Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for flinty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flinty
  1. strict
  2. gruff
  3. tough
  4. stern
  5. harsh
  6. fierce
  7. authoritarian
  8. grim
Adjective
  • Legitimate alcohol manufacturers use strict quality controls, and all their products undergo extensive testing, which is expensive and takes quite a bit of time.
    — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 31 Aug. 2026
  • California has strict laws aimed at preventing collisions between cars and bikes.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of strict
Adjective
  • Bob Hoskins’s gruff detective, Eddie Valiant, sees them as a sometimes-dangerous nuisance, while conniving film-studio power players see them as moneymakers, and the rest of humanity sees them as shades in between.
    — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Scott, 88, shares the character's worldview, despite the filmmaker’s notoriously gruff exterior.
    — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of gruff
Adjective
  • The war, and in particular Iran’s direct targeting of the Gulf, makes this approach a tough pill to swallow.
    — Dina Esfandiary, Foreign Affairs, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The conversation shifted from tougher ordinances toward resource allocation and investing in third spaces, which are places outside of work, school or home.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of tough
Adjective
  • Irving was born in New York City on April 3, 1783, the son of a stern Scottish immigrant who ran a tidy import business selling wine, sugar, and hardware.
    — Eric Lach, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Former President Joe Biden turned to then-CIA Director William Burns to relay stern warnings to Russia before and after President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
    — Matthew Mulligan, NBC news, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of stern
Adjective
  • Scott London Every year, Black Rock City appears on a dry lakebed in one of Nevada’s harshest areas, then disappears just as fast.
    — Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Hig has bunkered down with a grouchy companion, Bangley (Josh Brolin), who thrives in this harsh world.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of harsh
Adjective
  • Casemiro and Messi, fierce rivals when Casemiro was at Real Madrid and Messi at Barcelona, celebrated together, a rare sight for longtime La Liga fans.
    — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Pearce was celebrating five years of Opry membership and would return later to channel many aspects of Dolly, from her humor and fierce independence to her Appalachian roots.
    — Chris Parton, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of fierce
Adjective
  • A good number of them also have authoritarian governments, raising questions about the lack of accountability and due process to ensure the protection of the deportees’ rights.
    — Mark Banchereau, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The Gwangju Biennale was founded in 1994 to commemorate the 1980 Gwangju Uprising, during which hundreds of civilians were killed during a protest against the authoritarian military government’s brutal crackdown on civil rights.
    — Vivienne Chow, ARTnews.com, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of authoritarian
Adjective
  • The increasing chances of being taken, whether one is in a church, mosque, school, on a trip to the capital Abuja or resting at home, is a grim reality that should not be the case given Tinubu’s firm campaign pledges.
    — Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The chattiness of Eddy’s dispatches does little to conceal that the novel’s Jamaica is a grim place for gay men.
    — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of grim

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flintlocks
flinty
flip
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Cite this Entry

“Flinty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flinty. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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