1
: commercial iron that contains carbon in any amount up to about 1.7 percent as an essential alloying constituent, is malleable when under suitable conditions, and is distinguished from cast iron by its malleability and lower carbon content
2
: an instrument or implement of or characteristically of steel: such as
a
: a thrusting or cutting weapon
b
: an instrument (such as a fluted round rod with a handle) for sharpening knives
c
: a piece of steel for striking sparks from flint
3
: a quality (such as hardness of mind or spirit) that suggests steel
nerves of steel
4
a
: the steel manufacturing industry
b
steels plural
: shares of stock in steel companies
steeled; steeling; steels
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
1
: made of steel
2
: of or relating to the production of steel
3
: resembling steel
Synonyms
Examples of steel in a Sentence
Noun
The beams are made of steel.
Steel is an important industry in this area.
The invaders were driven back by steel.
the steel of a knife
Verb
hoped that his inspirational talk would steel the youths in the pursuit of their dreams
years of running a farm had steeled the hard-bitten woman
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Recent Examples on the Web
Naomi Lim, Washington Examiner, 11 Sep. 2023
That includes running vehicles on synthetic diesel, creating steel, and even steel alternatives like magnesium and zinc.
—Shelley Jones, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2023
Blade Material Most shovel blades are made of aluminum, steel, hard plastic, wood, or fiberglass.
—L. Daniela Alvarez, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Sep. 2023
At the front intersection, two rectangular steel tubes jut upward to provide mounting points for the aluminum windshield structure.
—Csaba Csere, Car and Driver, 7 Sep. 2023
The clacking rattle of steel wheels on steel rails creates a lulling percussive soundtrack.
—Patricia Harris and David Lyon, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Sep. 2023
So those of us who watched the construction of the giant marble cube next to the memorial might be forgiven for a little nonchalance: another set of steel foundations, dug deep then stretching high.
—Chloe Schama, Vogue, 5 Sep. 2023
On Christmas Island, red crabs clamber over a steel span during their beachward migrations; in Kenya, elephants lumber beneath highways and railroads via passages as tall as two-story houses.
—Ben Goldfarb, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Sep. 2023
Look for spades made of steel, hardwood, and fiberglass and use the tool for its intended purpose.
—Pamela Porter, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Aug. 2023
Thomas Biesheuvel, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2023
Picone steeled himself, cooked the pasta the following afternoon and drove downtown to serve it in front of the library around dinnertime.
—Jonathan Edwards, Washington Post, 9 Aug. 2023
Even if, as Zhong acknowledged, the pace of rising infections is laden with uncertainty, a rebound in cases was always likely, and many in China appear steeled to living with a background hum of COVID infections and sometimes COVID deaths.
—Chris Buckley, BostonGlobe.com, 27 May 2023
The Kremlin was in overdrive on Thursday striving to consolidate control and project an image of normalcy as questions swirled about the whereabouts of a top general, and Russia’s elite steeled themselves for a sweeping investigation into last weekend’s mercenary rebellion.
—Mary Ilyushina, Washington Post, 29 June 2023
The Kremlin was in overdrive on Thursday striving to consolidate control and project an image of normalcy as questions swirled about the whereabouts of a top general and Russia’s elite steeled themselves for a sweeping investigation into last weekend’s mercenary rebellion.
—Robyn Dixon, Catherine Belton and Mary Ilyushina, Anchorage Daily News, 30 June 2023
Enter Email Sign Up Prosecutors also recently asked survivors to prepare for the June 26 hearing by writing victim-impact statements and steeling themselves emotionally for the possible release of the Club Q surveillance video of the attack.
—Jim Mustian and Jesse Bedayn, BostonGlobe.com, 15 June 2023
Then steel yourself for an awkward conversation with friends and relatives.
—Jessica Guynn, USA TODAY, 24 May 2023
Most Americans know it as a tale about facing your fears, steeling yourself and prevailing against long odds.
—Kate Bachelder Odell, WSJ, 24 May 2023
Sophie Haigney, Curbed, 13 July 2021
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Noun
The shredded steel and concrete slabs that rained down from the World Trade Center.
—Naomi Lim, Washington Examiner, 11 Sep. 2023
That includes running vehicles on synthetic diesel, creating steel, and even steel alternatives like magnesium and zinc.
—Shelley Jones, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2023
Blade Material Most shovel blades are made of aluminum, steel, hard plastic, wood, or fiberglass.
—L. Daniela Alvarez, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Sep. 2023
At the front intersection, two rectangular steel tubes jut upward to provide mounting points for the aluminum windshield structure.
—Csaba Csere, Car and Driver, 7 Sep. 2023
The clacking rattle of steel wheels on steel rails creates a lulling percussive soundtrack.
—Patricia Harris and David Lyon, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Sep. 2023
So those of us who watched the construction of the giant marble cube next to the memorial might be forgiven for a little nonchalance: another set of steel foundations, dug deep then stretching high.
—Chloe Schama, Vogue, 5 Sep. 2023
On Christmas Island, red crabs clamber over a steel span during their beachward migrations; in Kenya, elephants lumber beneath highways and railroads via passages as tall as two-story houses.
—Ben Goldfarb, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Sep. 2023
Look for spades made of steel, hardwood, and fiberglass and use the tool for its intended purpose.
—Pamela Porter, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Aug. 2023
Verb
Steel has become an increasingly hot political subject in Washington, particularly after former President Donald Trump made blue-collar industries like coal and steel a centerpiece of his platform, promising a return to the days of rapid expansion in US manufacturing.
—Thomas Biesheuvel, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2023
Picone steeled himself, cooked the pasta the following afternoon and drove downtown to serve it in front of the library around dinnertime.
—Jonathan Edwards, Washington Post, 9 Aug. 2023
Even if, as Zhong acknowledged, the pace of rising infections is laden with uncertainty, a rebound in cases was always likely, and many in China appear steeled to living with a background hum of COVID infections and sometimes COVID deaths.
—Chris Buckley, BostonGlobe.com, 27 May 2023
The Kremlin was in overdrive on Thursday striving to consolidate control and project an image of normalcy as questions swirled about the whereabouts of a top general, and Russia’s elite steeled themselves for a sweeping investigation into last weekend’s mercenary rebellion.
—Mary Ilyushina, Washington Post, 29 June 2023
The Kremlin was in overdrive on Thursday striving to consolidate control and project an image of normalcy as questions swirled about the whereabouts of a top general and Russia’s elite steeled themselves for a sweeping investigation into last weekend’s mercenary rebellion.
—Robyn Dixon, Catherine Belton and Mary Ilyushina, Anchorage Daily News, 30 June 2023
Enter Email Sign Up Prosecutors also recently asked survivors to prepare for the June 26 hearing by writing victim-impact statements and steeling themselves emotionally for the possible release of the Club Q surveillance video of the attack.
—Jim Mustian and Jesse Bedayn, BostonGlobe.com, 15 June 2023
Then steel yourself for an awkward conversation with friends and relatives.
—Jessica Guynn, USA TODAY, 24 May 2023
Most Americans know it as a tale about facing your fears, steeling yourself and prevailing against long odds.
—Kate Bachelder Odell, WSJ, 24 May 2023
Adjective
Around the country, mining operations have cropped up in an ex-steel mill in Calvert City, Kentucky; an ex-Gateway Computer industrial campus in South Dakota; a power plant in Hardin, Montana; a former airplane hangar in Big Spring, Texas; and old fruit warehouses in Eastern Washington State.
—Sophie Haigney, Curbed, 13 July 2021
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'steel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English stele, from Old English stȳle, stēle; akin to Old High German stahal steel and perhaps to Sanskrit stakati he resists
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adjective
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of steel was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing steel
Dictionary Entries Near steel
Cite this Entry
“Steel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/steel. Accessed 29 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
steel
1 of 3 noun1
: commercial iron that contains carbon in any amount up to about 1.7 percent as a necessary part
2
: an article (as a sword) made of steel
3
: a hard cold quality
answered with steel in her voice
steel
2 of 3 verb
: to fill with courage or determination
steel
3 of 3 adjective1
: made of or like steel
2
: of or relating to the production of steel
More from Merriam-Webster on steel
Nglish: Translation of steel for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of steel for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about steel
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