1
as in gruff
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance
pinned them with a steely gaze and demanded to know what they were doing
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in grey
of the color gray
steely eyes that are the color of a stormy sky
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of steely
Giants this weekend, then the Padres from July 28-30 — kept afloat by its steely overachievers on the mound.
—
Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 25 July 2025
The steely blue, flesh-and-blood missile vaulted 10, 15, then 20 feet against the sky, then crashed home on its side in a shimmering explosion.
—Pat Smith, Outdoor Life, 24 July 2025
Alex Williams, an Indiana native with a mesmerizing, Stapleton-like baritone and a steely gaze, found himself in the middle of that search.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 18 July 2025
The British singer, producer, dancer, and actress has always operated from the periphery, eschewing straight-up bangers for steely, elusive mood pieces; what her songs lack in top 40 appeal they more than make up for in vision.
—Allaire Nuss, EW.com, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for steely
Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 25 July 2025
The steely blue, flesh-and-blood missile vaulted 10, 15, then 20 feet against the sky, then crashed home on its side in a shimmering explosion.
—Pat Smith, Outdoor Life, 24 July 2025
Alex Williams, an Indiana native with a mesmerizing, Stapleton-like baritone and a steely gaze, found himself in the middle of that search.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 18 July 2025
The British singer, producer, dancer, and actress has always operated from the periphery, eschewing straight-up bangers for steely, elusive mood pieces; what her songs lack in top 40 appeal they more than make up for in vision.
—Allaire Nuss, EW.com, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for steely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for steely
Adjective
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Faced with this existential crisis, Bull gathers his best pals—Rocco, a gruff boxer (Idris Elba); Lucky, a dopey but loyal beagle (Bobby Moynihan); and Fetch, a wannabe influencer dachshund (Fred Armisen)—for one final night of canine mischief.—
Travis Bean,
Forbes.com,
1 Aug. 2025
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Though polar opposites, together, Leonard and Bitchy have seen it all; the gruff Bitchy serves as the play’s agitator, pitting him opposite Leonard, the conscience and Greek chorus.—
Duante Beddingfield,
Freep.com,
30 July 2025
Adjective
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Dark grey smoke could be seen billowing as the explosion occurred during a time-lapse video shared by ABC affiliate WTAE.—
Jillian Frankel,
People.com,
11 Aug. 2025
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The former Michigan Wolverine led the grey team, coached by UConn’s associate head coach Kimani Young, to a blowout, 73-36 win over first-year assistant Mike Nardi’s blue squad.—
Joe Arruda,
Hartford Courant,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Amid the Yankees' slump, Boone's leadership, managing style and willingness to be stern with players have all been questioned.—
Aaliyan Mohammed,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Aug. 2025
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Directed by Garry Marshall, this comedy drama has a riveting, deeply ambiguous scene that can be considered a kind of acting triumph for Lohan, who plays a troubled young woman, Rachel, spending the summer with her stern grandmother (Jane Fonda).—
Tom Gliatto,
People.com,
9 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Her mother sat on the living-room couch in a gray sweatshirt, holding a pink Stanley cup.—
Jennifer Wilson,
New Yorker,
18 Aug. 2025
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It was described as a gray Ford Expedition, according to the call log.—
Emerson Clarridge,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Nonetheless, the show’s premiere provides the perfect moment to map out the slimy, menacing world of Ellen Ripley and company in their epic battle against one of the galaxy’s fiercest creatures.—
Dan Heching,
CNN Money,
12 Aug. 2025
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The potential redistricting effort has faced fierce backlash from opponents, including Democratic lawmakers from the Kansas City area.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Interested in bringing a hint of metallic into your living room, similar to how all the It-girls are donning silver sneakers as part of the latest footwear obsession?—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
14 Aug. 2025
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The two men then fled from the scene in a black Hyundai Sonata and a third man was seen on surveillance footage following in a silver Ford Fusion, according to court documents.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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With all due respect to the pressures of making an unconventional sci-fi film on a tight budget, using ecologically destructive technology for a story of ecological devastation, in which clean water is an increasingly rare resource, adds an unintentionally grim layer of irony to the tale.—
Josh Slater-Williams,
IndieWire,
11 Aug. 2025
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But while the afterparty was a little bit grim, MGK will always support Kelce — a fellow Ohioan — and the rest of the Chiefs.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The 2025 Subaru Outback is an adventure-ready SUV Subaru's SUV models like the Crosstrek, Forester, and Outback are known for their rugged exteriors and off-roading potential.—
Charles Singh,
USA Today,
20 Aug. 2025
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Fleece merges a rugged sophistication with everyday staples.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
19 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Steely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/steely. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
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