1
as in inspired
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in strengthened
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 braced
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
as in armed
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of steeled
Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 16 Sep. 2025
His sacrifice has steeled our resolve, redoubled our commitment and only increased our determination to save America at this critical turning point.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
Kyiv is also on a full war footing, with its government and population steeled against the damage and human losses that come with a major conflict.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 10 Sep. 2025
Handling adversity These setbacks steeled James Lovell to be an astronaut who could handle the pressures in times of adversity.
—John Baldoni, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025
Eventually, to the relief of the many passengers with less-than-perfectly-steeled stomachs, the ferry pulled into the port of Helgoland.
—Quanta Magazine, 8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Few coaches know that better than Mike Vrabel, who steeled his team ahead of what many expected to be a toss-up game.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 16 Sep. 2025
His sacrifice has steeled our resolve, redoubled our commitment and only increased our determination to save America at this critical turning point.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
Kyiv is also on a full war footing, with its government and population steeled against the damage and human losses that come with a major conflict.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 10 Sep. 2025
Handling adversity These setbacks steeled James Lovell to be an astronaut who could handle the pressures in times of adversity.
—John Baldoni, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025
Eventually, to the relief of the many passengers with less-than-perfectly-steeled stomachs, the ferry pulled into the port of Helgoland.
—Quanta Magazine, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for steeled
Verb
-
The name of the new pilot program was inspired by a biblical passage about Jesus' Parable of the Good Samaritan.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Oct. 2025
-
The team is inspired by its heartbeat.—
Adam Crafton,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The two college students (and daughters of Good Morning America co-anchor Michael Strahan) live on opposite coasts, but say the health scare strengthened their already-tight connection.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Nevertheless, the stadium had by then become synonymous with big football occasions — a status that was only strengthened by three European Cup finals being staged between 1963 and 1971.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Such as especially the case with sneakers, which can be cobbled together from as many as 60 wholly disparate parts, each designed to coddle, protect or perform, from leather uppers to EVA midsoles to the individual metal eyelet through which a cotton or polyester shoelace can be braced and secured.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
1 Oct. 2025
-
When tickets went on sale in Almaty on September 23, strict purchase limits were imposed as organizers braced for unprecedented demand.—
Nina Subkhanberdina,
CNN Money,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Not in the response from the armed Palestinian group were other provisions detailing Gaza's future, including some Hamas has long rejected.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem spent part of Friday on the rooftop of the controversial facility, surrounded by armed agents and a camera crew, according to CNN affiliate WLS.—
Whitney Wild,
CNN Money,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
People in the comments section validated her feelings and encouraged her to stand firm.—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
5 Oct. 2025
-
The family-friendly event draws kid and adult runners, and for a fun Halloween twist, participants are encouraged to dress up.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
That means the buds form on the previous year’s growth and are fully formed and hardened by fall.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Subsequent congressional investigations, post-campaign books, and news stories have only hardened public opinion that, with his mental acuity faltering and physical stamina limited, Biden should have stepped aside after a single term.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
When fortified with adequate nutrients, especially nitrogen, a lawn can outcompete clover.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Oct. 2025
-
The two have bonded over their desire to get better and their tireless work ethics, and that relationship has only been fortified as the years have progressed.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
28 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Steeled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/steeled. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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