Synonyms of steel

steel 1 of 2

noun

ˈstēl 

as in sword

a hand weapon with a length of metal sharpened on one or both sides and usually tapered to a sharp point

drew steel on the bandits, who immediately fled for their lives

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sword
• blade
• sabre
• brand
• saber
• rapier
• broadsword
• cutlass
• scimitar
• smallsword

steel

2 of 2

verb

1

as in to inspire

to fill with courage or strength of purpose

hoped that his inspirational talk would steel the youths in the pursuit of their dreams

Synonyms & Similar Words

• inspire
• encourage
• bear up
• buoy (up)
• buck up
• hearten
• reinforce
• embolden
• animate
• inspirit
• chirk (up)
• cheer (up)
• stimulate
• enforce
• reenforce
• strengthen
• invigorate
• galvanize
• enliven
• fortify
• provoke
• assure
• reassure
• rally
• stir
• energize
• excite
• quicken
• boost

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• discourage
• depress
• daunt
• weaken
• dishearten
• undermine
• demoralize
• hamstring
• sadden
• debilitate
• dispirit
• enfeeble
• intimidate
• psych (out)

2

as in to strengthen

to make able to withstand physical hardship, strain, or exposure

years of running a farm had steeled the hard-bitten woman

Synonyms & Similar Words

• strengthen
• harden
• fortify
• inure
• toughen
• season
• adjust
• indurate
• brace
• bolster
• temper
• adapt
• anneal
• reinforce
• acclimate
• acclimatize
• vitalize
• enforce
• reenforce
• forearm
• invigorate
• buttress
• condition
• immunize
• train
• break in
• support
• boost
• accustom
• prop (up)
• habituate
• naturalize
• limber (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• soften
• exhaust
• weaken
• sap
• emasculate
• cripple
• hamstring
• incapacitate
• enfeeble
• enervate
• sensitize
• debilitate

3

as in to brace

to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally

he had spent the previous night steeling himself for the moment when he would demand a raise

Synonyms & Similar Words

• brace
• fortify
• nerve
• ready
• strengthen
• forearm
• arm
• poise
• psych (up)
• bolster
• reinforce
• enforce
• harden
• comfort
• inure
• buttress
• sustain
• season
• reenforce
• support
• toughen
• rally
• prop (up)
• buoy (up)
• boost
• stir
• rouse
• encourage
• inspire
• hearten
• cheer (up)
• embolden

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Examples of steel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Harland & Wolff, which built the HMS Titanic over a century ago, has been working on Odyssey’s rudder shafts, steel hull, and engines. —Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 3 Sep. 2024

Later, in 1944, Australian troops discovered an entire Imperial Japanese Army cryptography library buried in a steel trunk at the bottom of a riverbed by retreating signalers. —Tony Perrottet, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Sep. 2024

Verb

Trump may be preparing for the wrong game: a two-player round of checkers when Kim is steeling for a multiplayer two-board chess match. —Michael J. Green, Foreign Affairs, 16 May 2018

Ultimately, though, such Olympic experience can’t help but steel Jovic for the next step in his Heat career. —Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 26 July 2024