1
as in gruff
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance
pinned them with a steely gaze and demanded to know what they were doing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in grey
of the color gray
steely eyes that are the color of a stormy sky
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of steely
His life is shaken up with the unexpected arrival of his estranged birth mother, Marg, a steely, misfit who reminds him of himself.
—
Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 16 July 2025
The British singer, producer, dancer, and actress has always operated from the periphery, eschewing straight-up bangers for steely, elusive mood pieces; what her songs lack in top 40 appeal they more than make up for in vision.
—Allaire Nuss, EW.com, 13 July 2025
Or a steely rationalist, girding for continuous summer?
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 8 July 2025
The conversation between him and David Carradine’s Bill, however, once again taps into that same steely, slow-and-low vibe that Marvin parlayed into an entire career, and was the he-man crown Madsen should have been the heir to.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for steely
Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 16 July 2025
The British singer, producer, dancer, and actress has always operated from the periphery, eschewing straight-up bangers for steely, elusive mood pieces; what her songs lack in top 40 appeal they more than make up for in vision.
—Allaire Nuss, EW.com, 13 July 2025
Or a steely rationalist, girding for continuous summer?
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 8 July 2025
The conversation between him and David Carradine’s Bill, however, once again taps into that same steely, slow-and-low vibe that Marvin parlayed into an entire career, and was the he-man crown Madsen should have been the heir to.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for steely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for steely
Adjective
-
Bill Pogue’s family and friends knew him as a thoughtful, deeply sensitive man, despite his reputation as a gruff, stern, wildlife officer.—
Jim Zumbo,
Outdoor Life,
17 July 2025
-
Who leaves us echoes — gruff, brilliant, unrepeatable — half legend, half lullaby.—
Lauren Huff,
EW.com,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
Stock up on a few in white, black, grey, and navy—you’ll reach for them more than anything else in your closet.—
Christina Holevas,
Vogue,
16 July 2025
-
Tyler Perry dons Madea's grey curls yet again — this time for a wedding in the Bahamas.—
Allison DeGrushe Published,
EW.com,
15 July 2025
Adjective
-
But she and the remaining Storm family members are swept up into an inheritance game – her father’s last wish, organized by her father’s stern, handsome right-hand man.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
31 July 2025
-
Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images With the matchup looming large as the 2025 season continues to draw closer, one of Rodgers' former teammates on the Jets has spoken out with a stern warning to him.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 July 2025
Adjective
-
Sasha stood in the middle, wearing a gray suit and tan shoes.—
Hannah Sacks,
People.com,
25 July 2025
-
Sandman is a beautiful gray colt that inherited the good looks from his father.—
Danny Brewer,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
Adjective
-
In the barrios of the American Southwest, chola girls perfected their look with dark lip liner, oversized flannels, and nameplate earrings, styling themselves with fierce precision that both declared loyalty and warded off erasure.—
Alexandra Jane,
Essence,
31 July 2025
-
In the last few years, fierce controversies have often been sparked by commercials, with commentators seemingly viewing ad campaigns as the battleground for a never-ending culture war.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
31 July 2025
Adjective
-
Unlike the original costume, the lace detailing features white and silver gemstones across the hem, with intricate designs on her hips and on the straps.—
Charna Flam,
People.com,
1 Aug. 2025
-
This drink is said to change color with each sip of blue and silver edible glitter.—
Jim Higgins,
jsonline.com,
30 July 2025
Adjective
-
Then Pike makes another grim discovery: a desiccated human leg.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
31 July 2025
-
The hunger alert and the new death toll are grim milestones in a conflict that began almost two years ago when Hamas attacked Israel, sparking an offensive that has laid waste to much of the enclave and ignited hostilities across the region.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
28 July 2025
Adjective
-
The Thai military has since claimed that more than 100 Cambodian soldiers have been killed as fighting spread throughout their rugged border, spanning some 500 miles.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 July 2025
-
Adventure Mate uses a mixture of hardened tool steel, composite and aerospace-grade aluminum to create a powerful, rugged tool that weighs in under 5 lb (2.3 kg) inclusive of all the hard components (handle, axe/saw head and shovel head).—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
25 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Steely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/steely. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share