as in strength
strength of spirit; ability to continue despite difficulties
He showed his mettle as a fighter tonight with a heroic comeback.
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Recent Examples of mettle
Maryland needed every bit of its mettle, and every bit of its magical freshman’s talent, to survive.
—
Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 24 Mar. 2025
To prove their mettle, the five women tackle the murder of a long-missing English nurse, whose corpse was discovered in a Paris park (although she had been strangled, she was found in a pool of blood).
—Chris Hewitt, Boston Herald, 9 Mar. 2025
The obstacles continue even after the team proves their mettle.
—Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Mar. 2025
Others are brilliant master watchmakers who long toil for other brands and one day strike out on their own to prove their mettle.
—Carol Besler, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mettle
Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 24 Mar. 2025
To prove their mettle, the five women tackle the murder of a long-missing English nurse, whose corpse was discovered in a Paris park (although she had been strangled, she was found in a pool of blood).
—Chris Hewitt, Boston Herald, 9 Mar. 2025
The obstacles continue even after the team proves their mettle.
—Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Mar. 2025
Others are brilliant master watchmakers who long toil for other brands and one day strike out on their own to prove their mettle.
—Carol Besler, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mettle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mettle
Noun
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Getty Images That said, international and U.S. stock returns tend to ebb and flow in cycles, with each showing multi-year periods of relative strength and weakness.—
Greg Iacurci,Jessica Dickler,
CNBC,
17 Apr. 2025
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Neuroplasticity allows for the formation of new connections, the purging of obsolete ones, and changes in the strength of existing connections—all processes that make subtle changes to the structure of our neural networks.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Now a captain with that San Jose Fire Department, Condren will join other firefighters Saturday in Sacramento to offer those interested in becoming firefighters a glimpse into their profession, a chance to test their stamina on an agility course and an opportunity to check out equipment.—
Cathie Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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People, not only Blacks and the downtrodden, prayed for his stamina.—
Bea L. Hines,
Miami Herald,
3 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Everybody else has no choice, really, other than to bring a cruel, narcissistic far-right leader to power.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2025
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Intake leverages the power of Ivalua’s gen AI and low code/no code configuration to automate and orchestrate processes across any system.—
Sarah Jones,
Sourcing Journal,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
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There comes a moment for every leader when the clearest sign of strength is found not in agreement, compromise, or accommodation but in the clarity and courage to firmly say no.—
Dan Pontefract,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
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Adding to the timeliness of this welter of Weill is the composer’s reputation for political courage.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
14 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mettle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mettle. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.
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