steelier; steeliest
1
: resembling or suggesting steel (as in hardness, color, strength, or coldness)
steely determination
steely blue
2
: made of steel
steeliness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of steely in a Sentence
a thief with steely nerves
He had a steely determination to succeed.
She gave him a steely gaze.
a sky filled with steely gray clouds
the judge's steely blue eyes
Recent Examples on the Web
What an opportunity getting to play someone who is steely and strong and manipulative and just bad, basically.
—
Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024
Like the film itself, Hanks is no-nonsense as a commander who reveals little about himself between barking orders and offering steely words of encouragement to the inexperienced, frightened young men around him.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 2 Nov. 2024
If not, look for Fred Warner to revert into early-season MVP mode as his troublesome ankle and steely mindset recharge over the bye.
—Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 1 Nov. 2024
In this week’s crop of new tunes, Willie Nelson and Ringo Starr issue sterling new songs, once again showcasing their timeless approaches, while Drew Baldridge follows his breakthrough hit with a new track celebrating steely determination and fortitude.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 28 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for steely 
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.
Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024
Like the film itself, Hanks is no-nonsense as a commander who reveals little about himself between barking orders and offering steely words of encouragement to the inexperienced, frightened young men around him.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 2 Nov. 2024
If not, look for Fred Warner to revert into early-season MVP mode as his troublesome ankle and steely mindset recharge over the bye.
—Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 1 Nov. 2024
In this week’s crop of new tunes, Willie Nelson and Ringo Starr issue sterling new songs, once again showcasing their timeless approaches, while Drew Baldridge follows his breakthrough hit with a new track celebrating steely determination and fortitude.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 28 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for steely
Dictionary Entries Near steely
Cite this Entry
“Steely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/steely. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
steely
adjective
steelier; steeliest
1
: made of steel
2
: resembling steel (as in hardness or color)
a steely gaze
steeliness
noun
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share