mettle

Synonym Chooser

How is the word mettle distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of mettle are courage, resolution, spirit, and tenacity. While all these words mean "mental or moral strength to resist opposition, danger, or hardship," mettle suggests an ingrained capacity for meeting strain or difficulty with fortitude and resilience.

a challenge that will test your mettle

When can courage be used instead of mettle?

While the synonyms courage and mettle are close in meaning, courage implies firmness of mind and will in the face of danger or extreme difficulty.

the courage to support unpopular causes

When could resolution be used to replace mettle?

The words resolution and mettle are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, resolution stresses firm determination to achieve one's ends.

the resolution of pioneer women

When might spirit be a better fit than mettle?

The meanings of spirit and mettle largely overlap; however, spirit also suggests a quality of temperament enabling one to hold one's own or keep up one's morale when opposed or threatened.

her spirit was unbroken by failure

How do tenacity and resolution relate to one another, in the sense of mettle?

Tenacity adds to resolution implications of stubborn persistence and unwillingness to admit defeat.

held to their beliefs with great tenacity

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 mettle Too bad that Lilian, upset, had not had the mettle to let their lunch wind down with good etiquette and cool leisure. Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 15 June 2025 Now, the Thunder are basically in a must-win situation on the road in Denver, facing a team with championship mettle. Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 May 2025 But these Nuggets have a championship mettle that’s been plainly evident in the three games of this series. Kelly Iko, New York Times, 10 May 2025 Yet those willing to test its mettle will discover a highly capable explorer that, with the new G 580, takes battery power to the backcountry. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 11 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for mettle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mettle
Noun
  • While the increasing trade deficit (exports minus imports) represents the strength of American buying power, the percentage of total trade that is an export (exports divided by total trade) represents billions in additional U.S. exports of soybeans, aircraft, medical devices and more.
    Ken Roberts, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
  • Start half strength liquid fertilizer applications weekly after the seeds germinate.
    Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 June 2025
Noun
  • Eighth Round - Paul 10-9 (Paul 80-72) Paul’s stamina is still his biggest issue.
    Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
  • Both encounters precise use of parries, dodging, and strategic stamina management to overcome the enemy, and were easily the most riveting parts of the overall preview.
    Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 24 June 2025
Noun
  • There's more than enough power in the iPhone Pro and Pro Max models to allow macOS to run smoothly on the hardware.
    Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 5 July 2025
  • Big Brother went from America voting out the houseguests to the housemates voting out their own with weekly competitions to have ultimate power as Head of Household.
    Dalton Ross, EW.com, 5 July 2025
Noun
  • Katz emphasizes Adams’ courage in publishing Lesbian Love.
    Kellie B. Gormly, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 June 2025
  • Some have said his victory gave them the courage to come out to their families and friends, and even to themselves.
    Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Mettle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mettle. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on mettle

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