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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
An underused Baranski delivers her usual dazzle as Victoria, and Kidman once again commits fully to the steely Russian enigma known as Masha.
—
Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 19 May 2025
Then came the Ravel, played with a steely determination to get through the not-ideal circumstances.
—Anastasia Tsioulcas, New York Times, 19 May 2025
Even with his steely determination, Fitzpatrick knows that Scheffler is a different beast when he's locked in.
—Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 May 2025
Not so in Greta Gerwig’s spirited retelling, in which she’s played with steely determination by Laura Dern.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 11 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for steely
Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 19 May 2025
Then came the Ravel, played with a steely determination to get through the not-ideal circumstances.
—Anastasia Tsioulcas, New York Times, 19 May 2025
Even with his steely determination, Fitzpatrick knows that Scheffler is a different beast when he's locked in.
—Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 May 2025
Not so in Greta Gerwig’s spirited retelling, in which she’s played with steely determination by Laura Dern.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 11 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for steely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for steely
Adjective
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While Hornets fans were not as gruff as New York Knicks or Boston Celtics supporters, Charlotte pro basketball fans were among the leaders who posted a specific swear word.—
Kendrick Marshall,
Charlotte Observer,
6 June 2025
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Paul is lovable but gruff, while Jimmy is lost and a bit broken after having lost his wife in a drunk driving accident.—
Hedy Phillips,
People.com,
2 May 2025
Adjective
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The dour, grey mood of the show is lightened by plenty of moments of humor.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
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Brand, 49, was arraigned at Southwark Crown Court in London at 10.30 a.m. local time on Friday, May 30, wearing dark sunglasses, a grey suit and an unbuttoned shirt.—
Phil Boucher,
People.com,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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It’s submerged 11 to 15 feet deep, with its stern facing the shore.—
Sarah Kuta,
Smithsonian Magazine,
11 June 2025
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Tonight: Explore! TAURUS (April 20-May 20) ★★★ Avoid arguments with others today, which might arise with Mercury in your House of Communications at odds with stern Saturn.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
9 June 2025
Adjective
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Snag it in three colors — blue, back, or gray — to match your existing decor.—
Jacqueline Tempera,
People.com,
7 June 2025
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Witnesses described him as a white male with salt-and-pepper hair, driving a silver or gray Chevy Malibu.—
Doc Louallen,
ABC News,
6 June 2025
Adjective
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Meta’s big bet on Wang fits into CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s plans to bolster his company’s AI efforts amid fierce competition from OpenAI and Google-parent Alphabet.—
Jonathan Vanian,
CNBC,
13 June 2025
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Sanders’s Senate counterpart, Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT), is a fierce Trump critic.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
13 June 2025
Adjective
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One remarkable find stood out from all the rest: a collection of ancient silver treasures.—
Aspen Pflughoeft,
Miami Herald,
30 May 2025
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The silver vehicle then hit the 84-year-old woman, who was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.—
Carolyn Stein,
Chicago Tribune,
25 May 2025
Adjective
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The two men shook hands, and Mamdani slipped away looking grim.—
Eric Lach,
New Yorker,
13 June 2025
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Appearances aren’t deceptive; the portents are grim.—
Christian Schneider,
National Review,
12 June 2025
Adjective
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The image of a bourbon drinker has too often been that of a white cis male and his friends hanging out in rugged environments.—
Diana Lambdin Meyer,
USA Today,
7 June 2025
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More than 100 officers are involved in the search covering rugged terrain in Washington's Cascade Mountains, with over 500 tips received from the public, according to the Chelan County Sheriff's Office.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Steely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/steely. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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