mettle

noun

met·​tle ˈme-tᵊl How to pronounce mettle (audio)
1
a
: vigor and strength of spirit or temperament (see temperament sense 1a)
a girl of … mettle who lost a baby brother to leukemiaBill Zehme
b
: staying quality : stamina
equipment that proved its mettle
proved his mettle in battle
2
: quality of temperament or disposition
gentlemen of brave mettleWilliam Shakespeare
mettled adjective
Phrases
on one's mettle
: aroused to do one's best

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 See All Example Sentences for mettle

Word History

Etymology

alteration of metal

First Known Use

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of mettle was in 1581

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Cite this Entry

“Mettle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mettle. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

mettle

noun
met·​tle ˈmet-ᵊl How to pronounce mettle (audio)
1
: quality of temperament or disposition
2
: strength of spirit
3
: ability to keep going : staying power

More from Merriam-Webster on mettle

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