1
as in encouraging
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 strengthening
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 bracing
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of steeling
The Pats are back because of who their quarterback has become, and who Mike Vrabel is as a head coach; a man capable of steeling a brittle roster into a dogged competitor.
—
Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 22 Dec. 2025
As the end of the year approaches, many workers are steeling themselves for their annual performance review.
—Sophie Caldwell, CNBC, 17 Dec. 2025
On the environment beat, look for further reporting on Kentucky's resilience in the face of flooding and other disasters, following a legislative task force report outlining recommendations for steeling the state against strengthening storms.
—Connor Giffin, Louisville Courier Journal, 15 Dec. 2025
Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 22 Dec. 2025
As the end of the year approaches, many workers are steeling themselves for their annual performance review.
—Sophie Caldwell, CNBC, 17 Dec. 2025
On the environment beat, look for further reporting on Kentucky's resilience in the face of flooding and other disasters, following a legislative task force report outlining recommendations for steeling the state against strengthening storms.
—Connor Giffin, Louisville Courier Journal, 15 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for steeling
Verb
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The Colorado Division of Oil and Public Safety is also encouraging impacted customers to contact them by submitting a complaint online or calling 303-866-4967.—
Austen Erblat,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
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Known for encouraging collaboration in a competitive industry, Brotherton was widely regarded as someone who championed other cooks as much as his own success.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In late 2025, underwater archaeologists working in Lake Issyk-Kul reported a major breakthrough at the Toru-Aygyr complex, strengthening the case for a true medieval city rather than a minor outpost.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Jan. 2026
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If breakage or dryness have your strands in disarray, the right formula can support strengthening strands and improving scalp conditions.—
Jennifer Hussein,
Glamour,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Wisconsin is bracing for a weekend snow event that could make travel tricky across parts of the state.—
Brandi D. Addison,
jsonline.com,
9 Jan. 2026
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Packing for winter trips used to mean bracing myself for clothes that simply didn’t fit right.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Published in 2021, Cochrun’s novel went viral with over 10,000 posts on TikTok, inspiring scores of fan art, and has been translated into eight languages.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
15 Jan. 2026
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This type of photogenic-tourism (a term used to describe travelers seeking out a frame-worthy view) is inspiring a new generation to explore the world.—
Essence,
Essence,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Propose a clear boundary with a sibling (or close friend) to stop resentment from hardening.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
7 Jan. 2026
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Those upgrades involve hardening vulnerable infrastructure, improving outage detection and restoration, and preparing the grid for increasingly extreme weather.—
Chaya Tong,
Austin American Statesman,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The ensuing film combines soul with CGI, fortifying the lofty reputation Pixar had already built by 2001, just six years into its theatrical run.—
Chris Snellgrove,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 Dec. 2025
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Instead of fortifying their position, the Pats watched while a few competitors stocked up around them.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
20 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Steeling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/steeling. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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