CTO wants all variables in file to be same length. You cant have "start" and "stop". You must have "start" and "cease".

Seriously? Why?

code readability + OCD

readability?
What.
Did he get you dictionaries to find words too?

yeah, google thesaurus

I wonder if he realizes how inefficient he is forcing his team to be with that one

How does one become a CTO with this mindset?

This could make a heck of a Silicon Valley episode.
Scene 1: CTO orders Guilfoyle to create all variables same length...
Guilfoyle: &:!:$:&/!:)/7:) you

Jesus.

I can only conclude that in this instance, CTO refers to chief tomfoolery officer

Implying code readability when even native English speakers will have to google the semantics behind a variable name every 5 mins due to cryptic thesaurus choices

That's ridiculous, variables names need to be concise and descriptive.

A good example I have come across is Guzzle namespace for http client.

$client = new Client(); // What client?
$guzzleHttpClient = new Client() // Better description

variable001, variable002, variable003. there are many ways to play a madman's game.

Whoa.. I'm not sure if I want to hug this guy or kick him in the nuts!

Start_xxxx
Stop_xxxxx

I would troll him by using the longest synonyms possible. For start I would use commence and maybe obstruct for stop. 😬

aaa, aab, aac, etc.

Just
runn
away