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steel wool
noun
: an abrasive material composed of long fine steel shavings and used especially for scouring and burnishing
Examples of steel wool in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Rust spots on stainless steel are usually from leaving metal items (like steel wool pads or pots and pans) sitting in the sink.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 24 Jan. 2025
Fine-grade steel wool can gently be used on cast iron, stainless steel, and enamel cookware.
—Halee Miller Van Ryswyk, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Jan. 2025
Their house had heat-resistant windows, a fireproof clay roof, walls made of concrete instead of wood, and vents stuffed with steel wool to keep embers from flying into the house.
—Eli Saslow, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2025
Ditch it: TikTok cocktails with dry ice or burning steel wool.
—Anna Spiegel, Axios, 3 Jan. 2025
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Word History
First Known Use
1896, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near steel wool
Cite this Entry
“Steel wool.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/steel%20wool. Accessed 28 Jan. 2025.
Kids Definition
steel wool
noun
: a rough material composed of long fine steel shavings and used especially for cleaning and polishing
More from Merriam-Webster on steel wool
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about steel wool
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