steely

adjective

ˈstē-lē 

steelier; steeliest

1

: resembling or suggesting steel (as in hardness, color, strength, or coldness)

steely determination

steely blue

2

: made of steel

steeliness noun

Synonyms

• austere
• dour
• fierce
• flinty
• forbidding
• grim
• gruff
• intimidating
• lowering
• louring
• rough
• rugged
• severe
• stark
• stern
• ungentle

Examples of steely in a Sentence

a thief with steely nerves

He had a steely determination to succeed.

She gave him a steely gaze.

a sky filled with steely gray clouds

the judge's steely blue eyes

Recent Examples on the Web

To give this steely space softness and dimension, the team upholstered the sofa in a violet velvet mohair from Dedar’s Adamo & Eva collection and let its silhouette do the rest. —Sarah Archer, Architectural Digest, 23 Dec. 2024

Her steely work ethic was of a first-to-arrive and last-to-leave ethos. —Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 23 Dec. 2024

Rolling with the sound of Slo-Be Bryant 3, one of the great West Coast tapes of the 2020s, Slo-Be’s steely, ominous murmurs give his sentimental gangster rap the air of sorcery. —Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 9 Dec. 2024

But a steely conversation between Kaitlyn and Gutierrez keeps the guy alive and on their side again, for now. —Andy Andersen, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1509, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

steely

adjective

ˈstē-lē 

steelier; steeliest

1

: made of steel

2

: resembling steel (as in hardness or color)

a steely gaze

steeliness noun