Synonyms of mettle

mettle

noun

as in strength

strength of spirit; ability to continue despite difficulties

He showed his mettle as a fighter tonight with a heroic comeback.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• strength
• stamina
• power
• courage
• grit
• determination
• courageousness
• vigor
• muscle
• fortitude
• potency
• might
• backbone
• puissance
• verve
• life
• brio
• chutzpah
• vitality
• hardihood
• gumption
• dash
• spunk
• ginger
• gusto
• dynamism
• pep
• bounce
• starch
• vinegar
• esprit
• heart
• energy
• main
• temper
• zing
• vim
• juice
• moxie
• pluck
• gas
• punch
• drive
• get-up-and-go
• spirit
• zip
• perseverance
• beans
• fiber
• nerve
• sap
• guts
• go
• pluckiness
• oomph
• gutsiness
• resolution
• snap
• vivacity
• zeal
• spiritedness
• sprightliness
• liveliness
• animation
• vibrancy
• fire
• intestinal fortitude
• fervor
• animal spirits
• briskness
• ardor
• passion
• spunkiness
• élan
• vivaciousness
• jauntiness
• vibrance
• snappiness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cowardice
• timidity
• spinelessness
• fearfulness
• cowardliness
• weakness
• tenderness
• cold feet
• cravenness
• poltroonery
• feebleness
• softness
• impotence
• dastardliness
• frailty
• delicacy
• infirmity
• timorousness
• powerlessness
• debility
• faintheartedness
• impotency
• faintness
• debilitation
• enfeeblement
• slightness
• mousiness
• disablement
• puniness
• frailness

Synonym Chooser

How is the word mettle distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of mettle are courage, resolution, spirit, and tenacity. While all these words mean "mental or moral strength to resist opposition, danger, or hardship," mettle suggests an ingrained capacity for meeting strain or difficulty with fortitude and resilience.

a challenge that will test your mettle

When can courage be used instead of mettle?

While the synonyms courage and mettle are close in meaning, courage implies firmness of mind and will in the face of danger or extreme difficulty.

the courage to support unpopular causes

When could resolution be used to replace mettle?

The words resolution and mettle are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, resolution stresses firm determination to achieve one's ends.

the resolution of pioneer women

When might spirit be a better fit than mettle?

The meanings of spirit and mettle largely overlap; however, 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

How do tenacity and resolution relate to one another, in the sense of mettle?

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

held to their beliefs with great tenacity

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of mettle

After being disappointed by Vi one time too many, the Queen decides to test her daughter’s mettle once and for all and issues an ultimatum: Vi must pass a vigorous leadership boot camp in Colorado or lose the throne to her uncle. —EW.com, 18 Oct. 2024

After just over two weeks of entertaining action featuring South America’s best women’s soccer teams, Corinthians proved their mettle once again. —Neel Shelat, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024

For the seventh year in a row, data scientists and analytics buffs will be invited to test their mettle against each other in the league’s Big Data Bowl, powered by Amazon Web Services. —Nicolas Vega, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2024

The Capricorn first quarter moon tests your mettle, stirring up jealousies or insecurities. —USA TODAY, 10 Oct. 2024

Phrases Containing mettle

• on one's mettle

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