stickle
verb
stick·le ˈsti-kəl 
stickled; stickling ˈsti-k(ə-)liŋ
intransitive verb
1
: to contend especially stubbornly and usually on insufficient grounds
2
: to feel scruples : scruple
Word History
Etymology
alteration of Middle English stightlen, frequentative of stighten to arrange, from Old English stihtan; akin to Old Norse stētta to found, support
First Known Use
1625, in the meaning defined at sense 1
sticklers
noun
as in disciplinarians
a person who believes that something is very important and should be done or followed all the time Her father was a stickler about arriving on time. Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- disciplinarians
- martinets
- purists
- criticizers
- perfectionists
- taskmasters
- discipliners
- authoritarians
- nitpickers
- micromanagers
- carpers
- faultfinders
- taskmistresses
- cavillers
- disparagers
- knockers
- cavilers
- hypercritics
- censurers
- nigglers
- castigators