Emphasizes the degree of commitment one has to a particular standard or belief. He's a stickler for punctuality, arriving an hour early to every meeting.
Pro Tip 2/3
Not Always Positive
'Stickler' can imply inflexibility or stubbornness in certain contexts. As a stickler for detail, she sometimes misses the bigger picture.
Pro Tip 3/3
Impressed by Rigor
Admiration for someone's strict adherence to a principle may lead one to use the term 'stickler'. He's a stickler for quality, so we trust his product recommendations.