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
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Recent Examples of steely
To browse her collections is to be confronted with the full spectrum of colors offered by the gem, from vibrant gold and soft lavender, to steely grey and rich plum.
—
Kate Matthams, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
The sluggish living makes sense for steely behemoths that live comfortably into their 200s and possible to 400 or more.
—Jeanna Bryner, Scientific American, 4 May 2026
Oettinger stopped 40 shots in another steely performance in his home state.
—CBS News, 26 Apr. 2026
But his Hamlet needs a stalwart supporting cast with whom to spar, and Ahmed tangles beautifully with Shakespeare veteran Timothy Spall, who plays Laertes’ father and family adviser Polonius, and Morfydd Clark as a steely but vulnerable Ophelia.
—Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for steely
Kate Matthams, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
The sluggish living makes sense for steely behemoths that live comfortably into their 200s and possible to 400 or more.
—Jeanna Bryner, Scientific American, 4 May 2026
Oettinger stopped 40 shots in another steely performance in his home state.
—CBS News, 26 Apr. 2026
But his Hamlet needs a stalwart supporting cast with whom to spar, and Ahmed tangles beautifully with Shakespeare veteran Timothy Spall, who plays Laertes’ father and family adviser Polonius, and Morfydd Clark as a steely but vulnerable Ophelia.
—Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for steely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for steely
Adjective
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But Rose bet that a less gruff voice, ultimately Mike Brown’s, was required to win it all.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
14 June 2026
-
Platner, a gruff 41-year-old Marine Corps veteran, is trying to unseat Republican Senator Susan Collins with a platform of economic populism, universal health care, labor protections, and anti-interventionism.—
Elizabeth Bruenig,
The Atlantic,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
The body was inside a bag in the trunk of a gray vehicle, which was opened by police due to its pungent smell.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 June 2026
-
Simply pair them with a basic T-shirt (white, gray, or navy blue will do) or a classic button-down shirt for a perfect outfit.—
Mayte Salido,
Glamour,
13 June 2026
Adjective
-
Fold-down stern platforms create more than 50 square feet of additional usable space at anchor.—
Michael Verdon,
Robb Report,
16 June 2026
-
The photo shows both the bow and the stern sections under construction.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
Among these is the Cryo Dirty Martini, crafted with briny Belvedere 10 Vodka and cryo-chilled with liquid nitrogen before being presented on a silver tray with green olives and a caviar bump.—
Aly Walansky,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
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During the months of filming, Shaikh was between jobs so instead earned money by doing tailoring - gluing tiny round mirrors to a dazzling yellow, silver and white colored sharara set of wide-legged pants, a tunic and stole.—
Neha Bhatt,
NPR,
13 June 2026
Adjective
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Publishers must also navigate changing consumer behavior, rising shipping costs and a fierce attention economy.—
Josh Rivera,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
-
The thing everyone, from the NCAA’s fiercest critics to its most loyal defenders, understood had to remain nonnegotiable.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 June 2026
Adjective
-
Travellers could be forgiven for growing grim about the mouth.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
16 June 2026
-
More to Explore In hundreds of grim mines, Sicilian children were exploited in slave-like conditions.—
Matthew Wills,
JSTOR Daily,
15 June 2026
Adjective
-
Travelers experience Marlborough wine country, Kaikoura wildlife, the Southern Alps, the rugged West Coast, and Queenstown.—
Steve Madgwick,
Travel + Leisure,
18 June 2026
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For anyone venturing off-the-grid or out deep in nature, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is a top contender as a rugged, adventure-suitable wearable.—
Cierra Cowan,
PC Magazine,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
The Valkyries seemed equally eager to welcome the rookie to the league’s most intimidating road environment, and succeeded in stifling the 23-year-old guard.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
18 June 2026
-
The climb up the dune is so severe that players cannot see the minuscule green from the tee box, which is surrounded by an intimidating set of bunkers that catch wayward shots.—
Gabby Herzig,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Steely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/steely. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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