stricture
a restriction or severe criticism
Root
- string / strict: draw tight or bind
Other words with the string / strict root
- astringent: sharp or tightening in taste or tone
- constrict: to squeeze or draw tight
- distressed: upset, strained, or suffering pressure
- restrict: to limit or confine
- stress: pressure or strain
- strict: demanding exact obedience
- stringent: strict and demanding
A stricture is tightness as a rule, narrowing, or severe criticism.
The professor ignored the minor strictures and praised the essay's argument.
Stricture can be physical, official, or verbal. In each case, something narrows: a passage, a rule, or a person's freedom to move.