mettle

noun

met·​tle ˈme-tᵊl 

1

a

: vigor and strength of spirit or temperament (see temperament sense 1a)

a girl of … mettle who lost a baby brother to leukemia

—Bill Zehme

b

: staying quality : stamina

equipment that proved its mettle

proved his mettle in battle

2

: quality of temperament or disposition

gentlemen of brave mettle

—William Shakespeare

mettled

ˈme-tᵊld 

adjective

Phrases

on one's mettle

: aroused to do one's best

Did you know?

Is mettle Connected to Metal?

Originally, mettle was simply a variant spelling of the word metal (which dates to at least the 13th century), and it was used in all of the same senses as its metallic relative. Over time, however, mettle came to be used mainly in figurative senses referring to the quality of someone's character. It eventually became a distinct English word in its own right, losing its literal sense altogether. Metal remained a term primarily used for those hard, shiny substances such as steel or iron, but it also acquired a figurative use. Today, both words can mean "vigor and strength of spirit or temperament," but only metal is used of metallic substances.

Choose the Right Synonym for mettle

courage, mettle, spirit, resolution, tenacity mean mental or moral strength to resist opposition, danger, or hardship.

courage implies firmness of mind and will in the face of danger or extreme difficulty.

the courage to support unpopular causes

mettle suggests an ingrained capacity for meeting strain or difficulty with fortitude and resilience.

a challenge that will test your mettle

spirit also suggests a quality of temperament enabling one to hold one's own or keep up one's morale when opposed or threatened.

her spirit was unbroken by failure

resolution stresses firm determination to achieve one's ends.

the resolution of pioneer women

tenacity adds to resolution implications of stubborn persistence and unwillingness to admit defeat.

held to their beliefs with great tenacity

Examples of mettle in a Sentence

The competition will test her mettle.

Recent Examples on the Web

There are some who would prefer to see Bivol take on David Benavidez, the monstrous puncher who has proven his mettle at super middleweight and light heavyweight. —Brian Mazique, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025

Across two record-setting seasons, Alan Ritchson has proved his mettle and then some as larger-than-life antihero Jack Reacher on Prime Video’s Reacher. —Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Feb. 2025

After proving his mettle with such menial jobs, Marks told me, he was eventually given a different but no less innocuous assignment: spend time brushing up on the NBA’s collective-bargaining agreement. —Jordan Sargent, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2025

Proving his mettle as a CIA agent even further, Owen makes one final play to recruit Jang Kyun as an American agent. —Barry Levitt, TIME, 30 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

alteration of metal

First Known Use

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing mettle

• prove one's mettle
• show one's mettle

Rhymes for mettle

• betel
• cetyl
• kettle
• metal
• nettle
• petal
• setal
• settle
• diacetyl
• gunmetal
• nonmetal
• resettle

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Kids Definition

mettle

noun

met·​tle ˈmet-ᵊl 

1

: quality of temperament or disposition

2

: strength of spirit

3

: ability to keep going : staying power