Inflexible or strict (5) Crossword Clue
Answer: RIGID (5 letters)
The answer to the crossword clue "Inflexible or strict" with 5 letters is "RIGID". Rigid refers to something that is inflexible, stiff, or strictly adhered to without deviation. It is often used to describe rules, objects, or individuals who are uncompromising and resistant to change or flexibility.
Why “Rigid” Fits
The clue asks for a 5-letter word meaning “inflexible or strict.” The answer, RIGID, fits perfectly:
- Inflexible or strict: "Rigid" describes something (or someone) that does not bend, change, or adapt easily—whether it’s an object that won’t physically flex, or a person, policy, or process that is unyielding and unwavering in adherence to rules.
- Direct meaning: The word captures both physical properties (as in a rigid structure) and personality or behavioral traits (as in a rigid disciplinarian).
This concise adjective directly aligns with the clue’s context of strictness and immovability.
“Rigid” is fundamental in both descriptions of material and human character:
- Origin: Stemming from the Latin "rigidus," meaning stiff or hard, "rigid" has been used for centuries to describe things that won’t give way.
- Usage: “The ruler was made of rigid plastic.” “She applied rigid standards to her students' work.” The term can be positive (suggesting reliability or firmness) or negative (indicating lack of flexibility).
- Broader sense: Beyond the literal, rigid is applied metaphorically to thinking, laws, and beliefs that resist modification or compromise.
“Rigid” effectively bridges both physical and metaphorical interpretations of inflexibility.
In quick crosswords, clues like “inflexible or strict (5)”:
- Highlight familiar adjectives—“rigid,” “stern,” “exact.”
- The answer length (5) is a perfect fit, and "rigid" is commonly used for both literal and figurative inflexibility.
- Clues emphasizing lack of change or adaptability almost always point to a succinct descriptive word.
Recognizing the overlap between inflexibility and the specified word length leads straight to “rigid.”
