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
• 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)
• hearten
• reinforce
• buck up
• embolden
• animate
• inspirit
• chirk (up)
• cheer (up)
• stimulate
• enforce
• 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
• forearm
• invigorate
• buttress
• condition
• immunize
• train
• break in
• support
• accustom
• boost
• 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
• support
• toughen
• rally
• buoy (up)
• prop (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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of steel

Noun

Its look, a pleasing meld of contemporary glass and steel, mid-century accents, and exposed brickwork, nods to the past. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026

Jesse Eisenberg didn’t want to be further associated with Mark Zuckerberg, and David Fincher was confined to the high steel of Netflix. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026

Verb

Boeing’s loss steeled its resolve and freed up engineers to work on the biggest airplane ever built for commercial service. — Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 12 June 2026

Instead, Altman appeared jittery at first but steeled his nerves rather quickly. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 13 May 2026