steel

steel

verb

Definition of STEEL

1

to fill with courage or strength of purpose <hoped that his inspirational talk would steel the youths in the pursuit of their dreams>

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

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)

Antonyms daunt, discourage, dishearten, dispirit

2

to make able to withstand physical hardship, strain, or exposure <years of running a farm had steeled the hard-bitten woman>

Synonyms fortify, indurate, inure, season, steel, strengthen, toughen

Related Words acclimate, acclimatize, adapt, adjust; anneal, temper; invigorate, vitalize; immunize; bolster, boost, brace, buttress, enforce, forearm, prop (up), reinforce (also reenforce), support; break in, limber (up), train; accustom, condition, habituate, naturalize

Near Antonyms emasculate, enervate, enfeeble, exhaust, sap, weaken; cripple, debilitate, hamstring, incapacitate; sensitize

Antonyms soften

3

to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally <he had spent the previous night steeling himself for the moment when he would demand a raise>

Synonyms brace, forearm, nerve, poise, psych (up), ready, steel, strengthen

Related Words arm; harden, inure, season, toughen; bolster, boost, buoy (up), buttress, enforce, prop (up), reinforce (also reenforce), support, sustain; cheer (up), comfort, embolden, encourage, hearten, inspire; rally, rouse, stir

Near Antonyms daunt, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dispirit, psych (out), shake, unnerve; debilitate, enervate, enfeeble, prostrate, sap, soften, tire, undercut, undermine, weaken