steel

²steel

verb

Definition of STEEL

transitive verb

1

: to overlay, point, or edge with steel

2

a : to cause to resemble steel (as in looks or hardness) b : to fill with resolution or determination <steeled herself to face the crisis>

Examples of STEEL

1. <hoped that his inspirational talk would steel the youths in the pursuit of their dreams>
2. <years of running a farm had steeled the hard-bitten woman>

First Known Use of STEEL

13th century

Related to STEEL

Synonyms: bear up, buck up, buoy (up), cheer (up), chirk (up), embolden, hearten, inspire, inspirit, encourage

Antonyms: daunt, discourage, dishearten, dispirit

Related Words: animate, enliven, invigorate; enforce, fortify, reinforce (also reenforce), strengthen; assure, reassure; boost, energize, excite, galvanize, provoke, quicken, rally, stimulate, stir

Near Antonyms: demoralize, depress, sadden; debilitate, enfeeble, hamstring, undermine, weaken; intimidate, psych (out)

see all synonyms and antonyms

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