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
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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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of steel
David Nikel, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
But the prevailing auditory sense that stands out in memory is an uncanny calmness, met by a student trapped inside, alive and aware, who cut through the stillness to comfort his peers while their fates remained sealed between earth and steel.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 9 May 2026
Jim Cramer, CNBC, 8 Mar. 2026
Ellison’s advisers were steeling for at least four more days of hard work.
—Lucas Shaw, Bloomberg, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for steel
Noun
They are prefabricated modules, often described as steel boxes, constructed off-site and slotted into the ship during assembly.
—David Nikel, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
But the prevailing auditory sense that stands out in memory is an uncanny calmness, met by a student trapped inside, alive and aware, who cut through the stillness to comfort his peers while their fates remained sealed between earth and steel.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 9 May 2026
Verb
So, once again, steel yourself.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 8 Mar. 2026
Ellison’s advisers were steeling for at least four more days of hard work.
—Lucas Shaw, Bloomberg, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for steel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for steel
Noun
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An altercation outside of a Venice apartment complex led to an attack with a samurai sword.—
Deborah Vankin,
Los Angeles Times,
9 May 2026
-
In Boston, on the same weekend, officers shot and killed a man in the Fenway neighborhood after police say the man attacked first responders with a sword.—
Louisa Moller,
CBS News,
9 May 2026
Verb
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That feeling of being seen and understood stayed with her, ultimately inspiring Henson to commit to a career as a nurse and to offer the same reassurance to her own patients.—
Nancy Badertscher,
AJC.com,
7 May 2026
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Kaneda’s core concept that Japan should focus more on quality than overwhelming force would inspire the Yamato and Mushashi in the 1930s.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
7 May 2026
Verb
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Kennedy said removing tariffs would reduce friction for importers, distributors and independent bottlers sourcing stock from Scotland, while also strengthening long-term confidence across the industry.—
Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
9 May 2026
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Our task is to rebuild and to strengthen the rule of law, the checks and balances.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
Verb
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Overcast skies hovered over Atlanta during the midafternoon as the metro area braced for severe weather.—
Vanessa McCray,
AJC.com,
6 May 2026
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The disappointment comes after the hotel industry was bracing for a strong summer in 2026.—
Rafael Nam,
NPR,
4 May 2026
Verb
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Lawyer Steve Oshins told Inside Wealth that QSBS laws and other tax proposals aimed at the wealthy encourage high earners to move to other states.—
Hayley Cuccinello,
CNBC,
8 May 2026
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This easy London broil recipe relies on a savory marinade with a small amount of baking soda to help tenderize the meat and encourage browning.—
Zaynab Issa,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
8 May 2026
Verb
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One that shows the intense rightward swing that has only hardened as the lines between hip-hop and the streaming universe have blurred.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
6 May 2026
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The airstrike on the Haret Hreik neighborhood targeted the leader of the Radwan forces, Hezbollah’s elite and battle-hardened fighting unit, Israeli authorities said.—
Mohamad El Chamaa,
Washington Post,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Infusing this with her music has fortified her place in pop.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
11 May 2026
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Together, those ingredients restore, firm, and fortify every inch of you.—
Adam Hurly,
Robb Report,
8 May 2026
Verb
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It can also be used as a bench, bearing up to 355 pounds.—
Caitlyn Martyn
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
11 Aug. 2025
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Harriet remembered there was something: inexpressibly affecting in the aspect of the frail little creature who had done such wonderful things, and who was able to bear up, with so bright an eye and so composed a countenance, under not only such a weight of sorrow, but such a prospect of solitude.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Steel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/steel. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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