steely

adjective

ˈstē-lē How to pronounce steely (audio)
Definition of steelynext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of steely This popular ornamental grass has soft blue foliage, and in midsummer and fall, its steely blue color is accented by pinkish highlights that transition into attractive winter seed heads. — Cori Sears, The Spruce, 16 June 2026 Chow Yun-fat stars as a steely, toothpick-chewing detective who seeks vengeance after gun smugglers kill his partner. — Eric Farwell, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026 His glare was still there, steely and intentional. — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 28 May 2026 Operational secrecy was preserved with steely discipline, and Israel was utterly deceived and taken by surprise. — David Frum, The Atlantic, 21 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for steely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for steely
  1. gruff
  2. gray
  3. stern
  4. silver
  5. fierce
  6. grim
  7. rugged
  8. intimidating
Adjective
  • Homer’s character, notorious as a schemer, here comes off as plain and direct—a gruff, practical tactician, rather than something more energetically inventive and morally dubious.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 15 July 2026
  • The New Zealander drew international acclaim for roles as gruff loners and unhinged villains.
    — Harrison Smith, Washington Post, 13 July 2026
Definition of gruff
Adjective
  • Reed left with the children in a gray 2020 Honda Accord four-door with a sunroof and Kansas license plate 3362AJH, according to the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.
    — The Star, Kansas City Star, 12 July 2026
  • The blue-gray sunray dial centers around a highly legible perpetual calendar display that shows the seconds, minutes, hours, days, months, years, and phases of the moon.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 11 July 2026
Definition of gray
Adjective
  • These new images, however, revealed that Quest is in worse condition than previously thought, with fishing nets, floats, and other bottom-trawling gear snagged on the stern and much of the starboard side.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 10 July 2026
  • People use all caps to indicate heightened emotion and avoid the formality of proper punctuation, which now seems stilted, even stern.
    — Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026
Definition of stern
Adjective
  • This outfit also came with a black turtleneck, a silver chain belt, and slouchy leather boots.
    — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 8 July 2026
  • One of the most elaborate wedding dresses in history, Queen Soraya of Iran’s Christian Dior wedding dress featured 37 yards of silver lamé, 6,000 diamonds, and 20,000 marabou feathers, and was so heavy that the train had to be cut at midnight.
    — Rebecca Cope, Vogue, 7 July 2026
Definition of silver
Adjective
  • Its young people are increasingly educated and ambitious but many are frustrated over fierce competition for limited jobs.
    — Ayushi Shah, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
  • The Pride and Angel City have established a fierce rivalry in their short history.
    — Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 July 2026
Definition of fierce
Adjective
  • Despite a nerve-wracking 1-0 start (before Bellingham knocked in a deuce), Jagger was seen looking grim and pacing around the VIP box.
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026
  • The current media environment is so grim that critique of anything has become radically attenuated.
    — Jia Tolentino, New Yorker, 11 July 2026
Definition of grim
Adjective
  • California is returning a stretch of rugged Mendocino County coast to the Indigenous nations whose ancestors once stewarded its shores.
    — Alex Wigglesworth Los Angeles Times, Arkansas Online, 5 July 2026
  • California is returning a stretch of rugged Mendocino County coast to the Indigenous nations whose ancestors once stewarded its shores.
    — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
Definition of rugged
Adjective
  • Still, this ambitious movie adaptation’s pedigree might just be more intimidating than any of the game’s brutally difficult boss battles.
    — Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 15 July 2026
  • More premium than the Kawasaki KLX300SM, more race-focused than the Suzuki DR-Z4SM, lighter and more competition-oriented than the KTM 390 SMC R, and most importantly, considerably cheaper and less intimidating than the Hypermotard 698 Mono.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 July 2026
Definition of intimidating

Browse Nearby Words

steels
steely
steep
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Cite this Entry

“Steely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/steely. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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