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 gray
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
Anchored in steely guitars and meditative keys, the track tells a rare, almost sacred kind of intimacy to life.
—
Tere Aguilera, Billboard, 27 Mar. 2026
Faut has a steely confidence and a quiet authority.
—Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
High Point had no miracle to counter Acuff’s steely greatness.
—Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2026
That story concerns Kay Scarpetta, a forensic pathologist of the usual steely determination.
—Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for steely
Tere Aguilera, Billboard, 27 Mar. 2026
Faut has a steely confidence and a quiet authority.
—Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
High Point had no miracle to counter Acuff’s steely greatness.
—Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2026
That story concerns Kay Scarpetta, a forensic pathologist of the usual steely determination.
—Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for steely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for steely
Adjective
-
Apparently, the gruff fighter Johnny Cage wasn’t much of a match for the all-powerful Miranda Priestly.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
10 May 2026
-
Iron Maiden’s singer when Smith joined, Di’Anno, had short hair and a uniquely gruff voice but couldn’t cut it on the road.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Even if his hair were jet-black, the last couple of weeks would be capable of turning anyone’s hair gray.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
-
Police are seeking information about a grey 2025 Ford Escape in connection with a hit-and-run crash that severely injured a bicyclist in Romulus, Michigan, on May 8, 2026.—
Nick Lentz,
CBS News,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
Yet Gilgeous-Alexander’s own diagnosis of his night, stern and accountable, showed no trace of concern.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
6 May 2026
-
His father, a billboard magnate, was a stern man who would whip his son with a razor strap for stepping out of line, but the youngster refused to capitulate to his dad’s authority.—
Paul Bond,
HollywoodReporter,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
Ellie quickly transitioned into this outfit live in front of the crowd, and then changed into a silver gown inspired by all of the pop star’s performances at the Grammys.—
Audrey Noble,
Vogue,
9 May 2026
-
Pettis put a half-teaspoon of the vibrant violet color on her palette, and then used the tip of her silver palette knife to capture a spot of color the size of a grain of rice.—
Mary Divine,
Twin Cities,
9 May 2026
Adjective
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But creating that space has proven challenging, with plans for two new shelters in the city limits abandoned in recent years after fierce neighborhood opposition.—
Ryan Gillespie,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 May 2026
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Wildlife refuges and other nature areas protect 40% of Block Island, and residents are renowned for their fierce opposition to anything that might imperil their pristine Atlantic home.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
Both those films centered on women whose grim worlds were closing in on them — a tomboyish auto mechanic in Closeness; a nurse and the frontline friend who turns on her in Beanpole.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
-
In a world living in the shadow of the mushroom cloud, the vault was a grim reminder that after nearly two hundred years, the American experiment needed to be defended.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
Located on the doorstep of wild and rugged country, King Salmon serves regularly as a refueling stop for hunting parties and as a place to get information on the location and abundance of game.—
Ben East,
Outdoor Life,
14 May 2026
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Developers advertised the rugged mesa—framed by the Santa Monica Mountains to the east and the ocean to the west—as an escape from the dust and noise of the growing city of Los Angeles.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
Restitution can be a very intimidating process, for which there are very few ways to find out where to start, who to talk to.—
Anne Doran,
ARTnews.com,
11 May 2026
-
His matchups this week aren’t too intimidating.—
Andy Behrens,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Steely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/steely. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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