diff --git a/doc/api/assert.md b/doc/api/assert.md
index d2b541111586be..d337a09b328921 100644
--- a/doc/api/assert.md
+++ b/doc/api/assert.md
@@ -7,6 +7,57 @@
 The `assert` module provides a simple set of assertion tests that can be used to
 test invariants.
 
+A `strict` and a `legacy` mode exist, while it is recommended to only use
+[`strict mode`][].
+
+For more information about the used equality comparisons see
+[MDN's guide on equality comparisons and sameness][mdn-equality-guide].
+
+## Strict mode
+<!-- YAML
+added: REPLACEME
+changes:
+  - version: REPLACEME
+    pr-url: https://github.com/nodejs/node/pull/17002
+    description: Added strict mode to the assert module.
+-->
+
+When using the `strict mode`, any `assert` function will use the equality used in
+the strict function mode. So [`assert.deepEqual()`][] will, for example, work the
+same as [`assert.deepStrictEqual()`][].
+
+It can be accessed using:
+
+```js
+const assert = require('assert').strict;
+```
+
+## Legacy mode
+
+> Stability: 0 - Deprecated: Use strict mode instead.
+
+When accessing `assert` directly instead of using the `strict` property, the
+[Abstract Equality Comparison][] will be used for any function without a
+"strict" in its name (e.g. [`assert.deepEqual()`][]).
+
+It can be accessed using:
+
+```js
+const assert = require('assert');
+```
+
+It is recommended to use the [`strict mode`][] instead as the
+[Abstract Equality Comparison][] can often have surprising results. Especially
+in case of [`assert.deepEqual()`][] as the used comparison rules there are very
+lax.
+
+E.g.
+
+```js
+// WARNING: This does not throw an AssertionError!
+assert.deepEqual(/a/gi, new Date());
+```
+
 ## assert(value[, message])
 <!-- YAML
 added: v0.5.9
@@ -37,6 +88,14 @@ changes:
 * `expected` {any}
 * `message` {any}
 
+**Strict mode**
+
+An alias of [`assert.deepStrictEqual()`][].
+
+**Legacy mode**
+
+> Stability: 0 - Deprecated: Use [`assert.deepStrictEqual()`][] instead.
+
 Tests for deep equality between the `actual` and `expected` parameters.
 Primitive values are compared with the [Abstract Equality Comparison][]
 ( `==` ).
@@ -126,16 +185,26 @@ changes:
 
 Generally identical to `assert.deepEqual()` with a few exceptions:
 
-1. Primitive values are compared using the [Strict Equality Comparison][]
-  ( `===` ). Set values and Map keys are compared using the [SameValueZero][]
+### Comparison details
+
+* Primitive values are compared using the [Strict Equality Comparison][]
+  ( `===` ).
+* Set values and Map keys are compared using the [SameValueZero][]
   comparison. (Which means they are free of the [caveats][]).
-2. [`[[Prototype]]`][prototype-spec] of objects are compared using
-  the [Strict Equality Comparison][] too.
-3. [Type tags][Object.prototype.toString()] of objects should be the same.
-4. [Object wrappers][] are compared both as objects and unwrapped values.
+* [Type tags][Object.prototype.toString()] of objects should be the same.
+* [`[[Prototype]]`][prototype-spec] of objects are compared using
+  the [Strict Equality Comparison][].
+* Only [enumerable "own" properties][] are considered.
+* [`Error`][] messages are always compared, even though this property is
+  non-enumerable.
+* [Object wrappers][] are compared both as objects and unwrapped values.
+* Object properties are compared unordered.
+* Map keys and Set items are compared unordered.
+* Recursion stops when both sides differ or both sides encounter a circular
+  reference.
 
 ```js
-const assert = require('assert');
+const assert = require('assert').strict;
 
 assert.deepEqual({ a: 1 }, { a: '1' });
 // OK, because 1 == '1'
@@ -251,6 +320,14 @@ added: v0.1.21
 * `expected` {any}
 * `message` {any}
 
+**Strict mode**
+
+An alias of [`assert.strictEqual()`][].
+
+**Legacy mode**
+
+> Stability: 0 - Deprecated: Use [`assert.strictEqual()`][] instead.
+
 Tests shallow, coercive equality between the `actual` and `expected` parameters
 using the [Abstract Equality Comparison][] ( `==` ).
 
@@ -292,7 +369,7 @@ If `stackStartFunction` is provided, all stack frames above that function will
 be removed from stacktrace (see [`Error.captureStackTrace`]).
 
 ```js
-const assert = require('assert');
+const assert = require('assert').strict;
 
 assert.fail(1, 2, undefined, '>');
 // AssertionError [ERR_ASSERTION]: 1 > 2
@@ -340,7 +417,7 @@ Throws `value` if `value` is truthy. This is useful when testing the `error`
 argument in callbacks.
 
 ```js
-const assert = require('assert');
+const assert = require('assert').strict;
 
 assert.ifError(null);
 // OK
@@ -362,6 +439,14 @@ added: v0.1.21
 * `expected` {any}
 * `message` {any}
 
+**Strict mode**
+
+An alias of [`assert.notDeepStrictEqual()`][].
+
+**Legacy mode**
+
+> Stability: 0 - Deprecated: Use [`assert.notDeepStrictEqual()`][] instead.
+
 Tests for any deep inequality. Opposite of [`assert.deepEqual()`][].
 
 ```js
@@ -412,7 +497,7 @@ added: v1.2.0
 Tests for deep strict inequality. Opposite of [`assert.deepStrictEqual()`][].
 
 ```js
-const assert = require('assert');
+const assert = require('assert').strict;
 
 assert.notDeepEqual({ a: 1 }, { a: '1' });
 // AssertionError: { a: 1 } notDeepEqual { a: '1' }
@@ -433,6 +518,14 @@ added: v0.1.21
 * `expected` {any}
 * `message` {any}
 
+**Strict mode**
+
+An alias of [`assert.notStrictEqual()`][].
+
+**Legacy mode**
+
+> Stability: 0 - Deprecated: Use [`assert.notStrictEqual()`][] instead.
+
 Tests shallow, coercive inequality with the [Abstract Equality Comparison][]
 ( `!=` ).
 
@@ -465,7 +558,7 @@ Tests strict inequality as determined by the [Strict Equality Comparison][]
 ( `!==` ).
 
 ```js
-const assert = require('assert');
+const assert = require('assert').strict;
 
 assert.notStrictEqual(1, 2);
 // OK
@@ -496,7 +589,7 @@ property set equal to the value of the `message` parameter. If the `message`
 parameter is `undefined`, a default error message is assigned.
 
 ```js
-const assert = require('assert');
+const assert = require('assert').strict;
 
 assert.ok(true);
 // OK
@@ -522,7 +615,7 @@ Tests strict equality as determined by the [Strict Equality Comparison][]
 ( `===` ).
 
 ```js
-const assert = require('assert');
+const assert = require('assert').strict;
 
 assert.strictEqual(1, 2);
 // AssertionError: 1 === 2
@@ -643,8 +736,12 @@ For more information, see
 [`TypeError`]: errors.html#errors_class_typeerror
 [`assert.deepEqual()`]: #assert_assert_deepequal_actual_expected_message
 [`assert.deepStrictEqual()`]: #assert_assert_deepstrictequal_actual_expected_message
+[`assert.notDeepStrictEqual()`]: #assert_assert_notdeepstrictequal_actual_expected_message
+[`assert.notStrictEqual()`]: #assert_assert_notstrictequal_actual_expected_message
 [`assert.ok()`]: #assert_assert_ok_value_message
+[`assert.strictEqual()`]: #assert_assert_strictequal_actual_expected_message
 [`assert.throws()`]: #assert_assert_throws_block_error_message
+[`strict mode`]: #assert_strict_mode
 [Abstract Equality Comparison]: https://tc39.github.io/ecma262/#sec-abstract-equality-comparison
 [Object.prototype.toString()]: https://tc39.github.io/ecma262/#sec-object.prototype.tostring
 [SameValueZero]: https://tc39.github.io/ecma262/#sec-samevaluezero
diff --git a/doc/api/deprecations.md b/doc/api/deprecations.md
index efa939c5779b55..12a73f8878c855 100644
--- a/doc/api/deprecations.md
+++ b/doc/api/deprecations.md
@@ -684,6 +684,15 @@ Type: Runtime
 cause a lot of issues. See https://github.com/nodejs/node/issues/14328 for more
 details.
 
+<a id="DEP0089"></a>
+### DEP0089: require('assert')
+
+Type: Documentation-only
+
+Importing assert directly is not recommended as the exposed functions will use
+loose equality checks. Use `require('assert').strict` instead. The API is the
+same as the legacy assert but it will always use strict equality checks.
+
 <a id="DEP0098"></a>
 ### DEP0098: AsyncHooks Embedder AsyncResource.emit{Before,After} APIs
 
diff --git a/lib/assert.js b/lib/assert.js
index 3418cf3230f83f..b88d5a13dd29b6 100644
--- a/lib/assert.js
+++ b/lib/assert.js
@@ -667,3 +667,15 @@ assert.doesNotThrow = function doesNotThrow(block, error, message) {
 };
 
 assert.ifError = function ifError(err) { if (err) throw err; };
+
+// Expose a strict only variant of assert
+function strict(value, message) {
+  if (!value) innerFail(value, true, message, '==', strict);
+}
+assert.strict = Object.assign(strict, assert, {
+  equal: assert.strictEqual,
+  deepEqual: assert.deepStrictEqual,
+  notEqual: assert.notStrictEqual,
+  notDeepEqual: assert.notDeepStrictEqual
+});
+assert.strict.strict = assert.strict;
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-assert.js b/test/parallel/test-assert.js
index c73b49deb328cb..5538548a1da38a 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-assert.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-assert.js
@@ -696,3 +696,22 @@ common.expectsError(
     message: /^'Error: foo' === 'Error: foobar'$/
   }
 );
+
+// Test strict assert
+{
+  const a = require('assert');
+  const assert = require('assert').strict;
+  /* eslint-disable no-restricted-properties */
+  assert.throws(() => assert.equal(1, true), assert.AssertionError);
+  assert.notEqual(0, false);
+  assert.throws(() => assert.deepEqual(1, true), assert.AssertionError);
+  assert.notDeepEqual(0, false);
+  assert.equal(assert.strict, assert.strict.strict);
+  assert.equal(assert.equal, assert.strictEqual);
+  assert.equal(assert.deepEqual, assert.deepStrictEqual);
+  assert.equal(assert.notEqual, assert.notStrictEqual);
+  assert.equal(assert.notDeepEqual, assert.notDeepStrictEqual);
+  assert.equal(Object.keys(assert).length, Object.keys(a).length);
+  /* eslint-enable no-restricted-properties */
+  assert(7);
+}