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
Recent Examples on the Web
Astha Rajvanshi, TIME, 24 Apr. 2024
When used as a kneeler, the solid steel frame—which supports up to 330 pounds—aids you in pulling yourself up from the ground.
—Rachel Ahrnsen, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Apr. 2024
That's why Biden is campaigning so hard talking about steel and increasing tariffs on Chinese imports to appeal to the kinds of union and working-class voters – that were so key in 2020 – in those states.
—Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 23 Apr. 2024
This discarded aluminum, steel, plastic, paper and cardboard should instead be turned into feedstock for remanufacturing new products and packaging, saving natural resources and millions of dollars in the process.
—Kevin Bommer, The Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2024
Biden has kept the tariffs and on Wednesday suggested plans to expand them on steel and aluminum.
—Josh Boak, Fortune, 18 Apr. 2024
Despite modest bilateral trade, China’s domestic economic boom indirectly helped bring civilian Soviet-era production back from the dead by lifting global demand and therefore prices for the industrial inputs the Soviet Union had produced in low quality but high quantity, from steel to fertilizer.
—Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 18 Apr. 2024
Five companies that provide materials for Iranian steel producer Khouzestan Steel Co. were also sanctioned.
—Jeff Stein, Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2024
Sanctions will hit Iranian companies involved in the manufacturing of drones, suppliers and customers of one of its largest steel producers and automobile companies tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the defense ministry.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024
Rachel Weiner, Washington Post, 26 Mar. 2024
Years of walking into spaces designed for men had steeled me for this moment and ignited my resolve to dominate the table.
—Julia Rafal-Baer, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Nuclear Acceleration: Xi Jinping, China’s leader, built up a nuclear arsenal, steeling for a growing rivalry with the United States.
—Mike Isaac, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024
Now, with Trump pulling slightly ahead of President Joe Biden in some national polls, U.S. allies are steeling themselves for a possible MAGA restoration with equal measures of dread and pragmatism.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2024
My six-month-old son saps all my energy but also steels my resolve to protect it.
—Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 18 Jan. 2024
Do your best to steel yourself and take in difficult feedback without coming unglued.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 12 Feb. 2024
Readying for the long haul The need for more troops comes as Ukraine steels itself for a long war.
—Serhii Korolchuk, Washington Post, 8 Dec. 2023
But another contingent is steeling itself for a fight, arguing that regulators have overstepped their authority and hobbled critical health care infrastructure by targeting trackers.
$30 for your first 3 months.
—Katie Palmer, STAT, 19 Dec. 2023
Sophie Haigney, Curbed, 13 July 2021
Noun
That included self-reliance in the capital goods sector and heavy investment in Indian railways, steel companies, and nuclear power.
—Astha Rajvanshi, TIME, 24 Apr. 2024
When used as a kneeler, the solid steel frame—which supports up to 330 pounds—aids you in pulling yourself up from the ground.
—Rachel Ahrnsen, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Apr. 2024
That's why Biden is campaigning so hard talking about steel and increasing tariffs on Chinese imports to appeal to the kinds of union and working-class voters – that were so key in 2020 – in those states.
—Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 23 Apr. 2024
This discarded aluminum, steel, plastic, paper and cardboard should instead be turned into feedstock for remanufacturing new products and packaging, saving natural resources and millions of dollars in the process.
—Kevin Bommer, The Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2024
Biden has kept the tariffs and on Wednesday suggested plans to expand them on steel and aluminum.
—Josh Boak, Fortune, 18 Apr. 2024
Despite modest bilateral trade, China’s domestic economic boom indirectly helped bring civilian Soviet-era production back from the dead by lifting global demand and therefore prices for the industrial inputs the Soviet Union had produced in low quality but high quantity, from steel to fertilizer.
—Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 18 Apr. 2024
Five companies that provide materials for Iranian steel producer Khouzestan Steel Co. were also sanctioned.
—Jeff Stein, Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2024
Sanctions will hit Iranian companies involved in the manufacturing of drones, suppliers and customers of one of its largest steel producers and automobile companies tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the defense ministry.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024
Verb
Commuters are steeling themselves for drives lasting three or four times as long.
—Rachel Weiner, Washington Post, 26 Mar. 2024
Years of walking into spaces designed for men had steeled me for this moment and ignited my resolve to dominate the table.
—Julia Rafal-Baer, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Nuclear Acceleration: Xi Jinping, China’s leader, built up a nuclear arsenal, steeling for a growing rivalry with the United States.
—Mike Isaac, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024
Now, with Trump pulling slightly ahead of President Joe Biden in some national polls, U.S. allies are steeling themselves for a possible MAGA restoration with equal measures of dread and pragmatism.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2024
My six-month-old son saps all my energy but also steels my resolve to protect it.
—Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 18 Jan. 2024
Do your best to steel yourself and take in difficult feedback without coming unglued.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 12 Feb. 2024
Readying for the long haul The need for more troops comes as Ukraine steels itself for a long war.
—Serhii Korolchuk, Washington Post, 8 Dec. 2023
But another contingent is steeling itself for a fight, arguing that regulators have overstepped their authority and hobbled critical health care infrastructure by targeting trackers.
$30 for your first 3 months.
—Katie Palmer, STAT, 19 Dec. 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
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.
Dictionary Entries Near steel
Cite this Entry
“Steel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/steel. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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