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 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
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
Cordell Walker, a steely-eyed former Marine who dispensed Lone Star justice with roundhouse kicks and a decidedly old-school moral code.
—Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for steely
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
Cordell Walker, a steely-eyed former Marine who dispensed Lone Star justice with roundhouse kicks and a decidedly old-school moral code.
—Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for steely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for steely
Adjective
-
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
-
Goldstein plays gruff retired footballer and now assistant coach of AFC Richmond Roy Kent.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Around that time, a celebrity biologist and adventurer named Robert Marc Lehmann showed up in a gray-camouflage wetsuit.—
Jessica Camille Aguirre,
New Yorker,
2 May 2026
-
Choose between a variety of color combinations that include black with navy, olive green, gray, pink, brown, and more.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
2 May 2026
Adjective
-
An Ada County judge let a Boise woman who stole jewelry from hospice patients off without prison time — but not without a stern warning and alternative punishment.—
Sally Krutzig,
Idaho Statesman,
28 Apr. 2026
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When addressing Chasing Horse, Peterson took on a stern tone and admonished the actor and his attorney, Craig Mueller, for denying the charges and downplaying evidence of assault.—
Alexandra Del Rosario,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
After a group of glamorous bell hops brought out suitcases filled with silver flasks that were handed out to the audience.—
Eve Batey,
Vanity Fair,
3 May 2026
-
The style, which retails for $945, is currently available in a silver metallic iteration and a patent red version on the label’s website.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
3 May 2026
Adjective
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This may explain why Suzanna’s mother is a somewhat indistinct presence in the novel (at least compared with fierce Sylvie)—patient, even serene behind bars, more eager to talk about her daughter’s future than about her own future, let alone her troubled past.—
James Wood,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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The Bloomberg-era street transformations weren’t popular at first, and pushback was fierce.—
Jonathan Timm,
New York Daily News,
3 May 2026
Adjective
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And if The Devil Wears Prada 2 is any kind of morale bellwether for big media, even the ten people with job security are feeling grim about the mouth.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
6 May 2026
-
Continue reading … BEHIND CLOSED DOORS — Babysitter’s grim discovery exposes deadly family secret inside luxury home.—
,
FOXNews.com,
6 May 2026
Adjective
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Waves of silicon, metal, and concrete would spoil views of Sardinia’s stunning beaches, rugged mountains, ancient pastures, and idyllic medieval villages, after all.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
7 May 2026
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Crews are also using multiple techniques in the rugged terrain, including rim trail scanning, walk-down routes into the canyon, technical rope insertions, aerial reconnaissance flights and drone operations, park officials said.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
You might be asked to step up, own up to a mistake or take the lead in a way that feels more intimidating than usual.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
6 May 2026
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While no medical procedure is fun, exactly, some can feel more intimidating than others.—
Holly Burns,
Time,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Steely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/steely. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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