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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of steely
Laura Faye Smith portrays Emmy with steely determination.
—
Mary Damiano, Miami Herald, 16 Feb. 2026
Other people, such as Jason McCall, are steely veterans of the nation’s largest sporting event.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 8 Feb. 2026
His eyes are steely, his face weathered by each bruising chapter of his life.
—Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
Before long, the film will shift gears to a third main character, Madame Suman’s daughter-in-law Nat (a steely Davika Hoorne), who recently died of lung disease and longs for her still-living husband March (Witsarut Himmarat).
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for steely
Mary Damiano, Miami Herald, 16 Feb. 2026
Other people, such as Jason McCall, are steely veterans of the nation’s largest sporting event.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 8 Feb. 2026
His eyes are steely, his face weathered by each bruising chapter of his life.
—Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
Before long, the film will shift gears to a third main character, Madame Suman’s daughter-in-law Nat (a steely Davika Hoorne), who recently died of lung disease and longs for her still-living husband March (Witsarut Himmarat).
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for steely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for steely
Adjective
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As Woody Harrelson detailed Harrison Ford's accomplishments from the Actors Awards stage, the famously gruff actor seemed to squirm in his seat, somehow uncomfortable with praise even at the age of 83.—
Eve Batey,
Vanity Fair,
2 Mar. 2026
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While not gruff or unfriendly, the serious New York restaurateur carries a distinct tone of getting down to business, even when casually chatting about how the show has changed over time.—
Heidi Finley,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Dark red markings on a gray panel, meanwhile, typically indicate that the ammunition contains an irritant or riot-control agent.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Mar. 2026
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Get this $750 bag for just $225 in black, and save 41 percent or more on every other color, from warm green to reddish tan leather or signature canvas options in tan, black, white, and gray.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
On Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a stern warning to the Iranians after an Iranian missile was launched at Turkey and was shot down by NATO defense forces.—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Ye allegedly demanded in a stern voice mimicked on the stand by Holding.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Before long, smitten cast members, including Sarah Sherman and a cameraman wearing an I (Heart) Harry shirt who kept focusing on Styles, proved too much for Gosling, who called off a big song and dance number featuring most of the cast in silver space attire.—
Omar L. Gallaga,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
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These candy-like shapes in bright neon colors contrast quite nicely against a silver base.—
Audrey Noble,
Vogue,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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But Ferrari, once Mercedes’ fiercest F1 rival before Red Bull took over in that role at the start of the 2020s, threatened to crash the party once the lights went out.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2026
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But the spring battles for starting jobs look fierce; Warren Roberson, Kade Phillips, Kobe Black and Wardell Mack join Mascoe as cornerbacks that could make a claim on a starting job while safeties Jordon Johnson-Rubell and Zelus Hicks each could use a strong spring to make their case.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The logic of what attracts the news media’s interest can be quite grim.—
Robert Moor,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
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Sunday’s attack now occupies that grim distinction in Austin’s modern history.—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez,
Austin American Statesman,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Make sure to balance class with rustic touches for the perfect mix of rugged luxury.—
Kylie Petty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Mar. 2026
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This rugged balance ball is made with anti-burst polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and has a 600-pound weight capacity.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The willful Sun teams up with joyous Jupiter to energize your domestic zone and your intimidating 8th house.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Long guns, very intimidating guns.—
Heather Abbott,
CBS News,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Steely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/steely. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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