steely

adjective

ˈstē-lē 

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

• austere
• dour
• fierce
• flinty
• forbidding
• grim
• gruff
• intimidating
• lowering
• louring
• rough
• rugged
• severe
• stark
• stern
• ungentle

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

But those soft outfits covered a steely reporter whose eyes never missed anything and whose ears heard every whisper of affairs, scandals and the latest social gossip. —Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 13 June 2025

The band filtered out of the dressing room; Sly came last, picking up his knees like a drum majorette and grinning a steely grin. —Timothy Crouse, Rolling Stone, 9 June 2025

Wayne trounced his competition with punishing punchlines and steely wordplay. —Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 6 June 2025

The frustration was visible on his expressionless face, in his steely eyes. —Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 15 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1509, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for steely

• freely
• keeley
• mealy
• seely
• vilely
• ideally
• lapilli
• swahili
• intraperitoneally
• kiswahili

Kids Definition

steely

adjective

ˈstē-lē 

steelier; steeliest

1

: made of steel

2

: resembling steel (as in hardness or color)

a steely gaze

steeliness noun