as in sword
a hand weapon with a length of metal sharpened on one or both sides and usually tapered to a sharp point
drew steel on the bandits, who immediately fled for their lives
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in to inspire
to fill with courage or strength of purpose
hoped that his inspirational talk would steel the youths in the pursuit of their dreams
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to strengthen
to make able to withstand physical hardship, strain, or exposure
years of running a farm had steeled the hard-bitten woman
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to brace
to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally
he had spent the previous night steeling himself for the moment when he would demand a raise
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of steel
Sarah Madaus, Architectural Digest, 17 Apr. 2025
It’s been a rollercoaster ride with the European Union also now affected by charges on steel and aluminum imports, with further ones threatened on wine and spirits.
—Nick Thomas, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2025
A.o. Scott, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025
Recall huge longshot Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike won this race on his way to steeling the 2022 Kentucky Derby at 80/1 parimutual odds.
—Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for steel
Noun
The stand is made with wood, and features a steel and leather top surface.
—Sarah Madaus, Architectural Digest, 17 Apr. 2025
It’s been a rollercoaster ride with the European Union also now affected by charges on steel and aluminum imports, with further ones threatened on wine and spirits.
—Nick Thomas, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2025
Verb
The speaker here is one of those men — summoning his courage in the face of terror, steeling himself for the unimaginable.
—A.o. Scott, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025
Recall huge longshot Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike won this race on his way to steeling the 2022 Kentucky Derby at 80/1 parimutual odds.
—Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for steel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for steel
Noun
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Lind was injured by a samurai sword during the altercation.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
12 Apr. 2025
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The battles are chockablock with clashing swords and explosions; more whimsical stuff, such as a house made of sheep wool and another constructed entirely of mushrooms, is relegated to background-joke status.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
11 Apr. 2025
Verb
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May the light of Easter inspire efforts to promote harmony in the western Balkans and sustain political leaders in their efforts to allay tensions and crises, and, together with their partner countries in the region, to reject dangerous and destabilizing actions.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr.,
USA Today,
22 Apr. 2025
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After earning herself an Academy Award with her Sense and Sensibility script, Thompson leant her pen to another Jane Austen adaptation — and helped nail down a speech that would inspire two decades worth of memes and angsty birthday cakes.—
Shania Russell,
EW.com,
21 Apr. 2025
Verb
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To strengthen cultural ties between France and the U.S. by promoting the work of a young contemporary composer, Pisar initiated the Pisar Prize, a collaboration between Juilliard and Théâtre des Champs-Élysées.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
10 Apr. 2025
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With over 200 articles about everyday life in America, his goal is to bring the American experience closer to Vietnamese readers and contribute to strengthening ties between the two countries, especially as the world marks 50 years since the end of the Vietnam War.—
Rick Mauch,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Goldman Sachs worries the stock drawdown is about to get worse, and is bracing for wider credit spreads and a recession.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
9 Apr. 2025
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Digital Commerce Companies: These businesses, including e-commerce platforms and payment processors, are pulling back on public offering plans and bracing for pain.—
Jon Cherry,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The goal of the tax subsidies was to encourage more Americans to save for retirement.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
20 Apr. 2025
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To Thomas, the phrase is meant to encourage people to not give up on democracy.—
Harriet Blair Rowan,
Mercury News,
19 Apr. 2025
Verb
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And then, as if he’s already relived the moment in question and arrived at the same, grim decision, Joel’s expression hardens.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
13 Apr. 2025
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Farmers say their forebears initially enjoyed super yields, but the soil has hardened over time, and yields have plummeted, leading to more chemical use.—
Brooke Roberts-Islam,
Forbes.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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But all that has only fortified a character who went from hapless brother-in-law to inarguably the most evolved one of the bunch.—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Apr. 2025
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Because the people in charge didn’t pick the right players, and didn’t draft well enough with the leftover picks to fortify the roster.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
20 Apr. 2025
Verb
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In 1970, the average Chinese woman was expected to bear up to six children throughout her lifetime.—
Micah McCartney,
Newsweek,
22 Jan. 2025
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In 1970, the average Chinese woman was expected to bear up to six children throughout her lifetime.—
Micah McCartney,
Newsweek,
22 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Steel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/steel. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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