stickler

UK: /ˈstɪklə^r/ US: /ˈstɪklɚ/ ,(stik′lər)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

stick•ler /ˈstɪklɚ/   n. [countable]

1. one who insists on something being (done in) a certain way:
   a stickler for playing by the rules of the game.
2. any difficult problem or riddle.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

stick•ler  (stik′lər), n. 

1. a person who insists on something unyieldingly (usually fol. by for):
   a stickler for ceremony.
2. any puzzling or difficult problem.

• stickle + -er¹ 1530–40

Synonyms

• 1. fanatic, purist, perfectionist.
• 2. puzzle, riddle, mystery.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

stickler / ˈstɪklə/ noun

1. (usually followed by for) a person who makes insistent demands: a stickler for accuracy
2. a problem or puzzle: the investigation proved to be a stickler