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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His son Bashar took power, and in time proved to be an even more vicious tyrant than his father.—
Jon Lee Anderson,
The New Yorker,
27 Jan. 2025
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Fleet Admiral Alexander Marcus — who had, coincidentally, ordered the 20th-century tyrant's defrosting — was also a member of Section 31.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
24 Jan. 2025
Noun
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When the Syrian Assad regime was toppled, many outside Syria assumed Christians were aligned with the dictator.—
Anders Fogh Rasmussen,
Newsweek,
4 Feb. 2025
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Marc Caputo Jan 18, 2025 - Energy & Climate Trump's team wants Maduro to leave Venezuela The incoming Trump administration wants regime change in Venezuela, where dictator Nicolás Maduro stole his election, jailed a rival and this month even threatened to invade the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico.—
Avery Lotz,
Axios,
3 Feb. 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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Go-getter Mars will also meet with taskmaster Saturn later that day, assisting you in cultivating the discipline and focus needed to nurture your long-term goals and dreams.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
1 Feb. 2025
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His talent-search shows, Making the Band and Making His Band, demonstrated the veteran producer’s eye and ear for a successful singing group while revealing a taskmaster’s self-importance.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
17 Apr. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Martinet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/martinet. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
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