steel

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 of steel blade, brand, swordWords Related to steel broadsword, cutlass, rapier, saber (or sabre), scimitar, smallsword

1 to fill with courage or strength of purpose hoped that his inspirational talk would steel the youths in the pursuit of their dreams Synonyms of steel bear up, buck up, buoy (up), cheer (up), chirk (up), embolden, hearten, inspire, inspirit, encourageWords Related to steel animate, enliven, invigorate; enforce, fortify, reinforce (also reenforce), strengthen; assure, reassure; boost, energize, excite, galvanize, provoke, quicken, rally, stimulate, stirNear Antonyms of steel demoralize, depress, sadden; debilitate, enfeeble, hamstring, undermine, weaken; intimidate, psych (out)Antonyms of steel daunt, discourage, dishearten, dispirit

2 to make able to withstand physical hardship, strain, or exposure years of running a farm had steeled the hard-bitten woman Synonyms of steel fortify, indurate, inure, season, harden, strengthen, toughenWords Related to steel acclimate, acclimatize, adapt, adjust; anneal, temper; invigorate, vitalize; immunize; bolster, boost, brace, buttress, enforce, forearm, prop (up), reinforce (also reenforce), support; break in, limber (up), train; accustom, condition, habituate, naturalizeNear Antonyms of steel emasculate, enervate, enfeeble, exhaust, sap, weaken; cripple, debilitate, hamstring, incapacitate; sensitizeAntonyms of steel soften

3 to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally he had spent the previous night steeling himself for the moment when he would demand a raise Synonyms of steel brace, forearm, nerve, poise, psych (up), ready, fortify, strengthenWords Related to steel arm; harden, inure, season, toughen; bolster, boost, buoy (up), buttress, enforce, prop (up), reinforce (also reenforce), support, sustain; cheer (up), comfort, embolden, encourage, hearten, inspire; rally, rouse, stirNear Antonyms of steel daunt, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dispirit, psych (out), shake, unnerve; debilitate, enervate, enfeeble, prostrate, sap, soften, tire, undercut, undermine, weaken