mettle

Synonym Chooser

How is the word mettle distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of mettle are courage, resolution, spirit, and tenacity. While all these words mean "mental or moral strength to resist opposition, danger, or hardship," mettle suggests an ingrained capacity for meeting strain or difficulty with fortitude and resilience.

a challenge that will test your mettle

When can courage be used instead of mettle?

While the synonyms courage and mettle are close in meaning, courage implies firmness of mind and will in the face of danger or extreme difficulty.

the courage to support unpopular causes

When could resolution be used to replace mettle?

The words resolution and mettle are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, resolution stresses firm determination to achieve one's ends.

the resolution of pioneer women

When might spirit be a better fit than mettle?

The meanings of spirit and mettle largely overlap; however, spirit also suggests a quality of temperament enabling one to hold one's own or keep up one's morale when opposed or threatened.

her spirit was unbroken by failure

How do tenacity and resolution relate to one another, in the sense of mettle?

Tenacity adds to resolution implications of stubborn persistence and unwillingness to admit defeat.

held to their beliefs with great tenacity

Examples 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 mettle At one time or another, all ardent skiers dream of a European vacation in order to test their mettle at some of the world’s greatest ski resorts. Roger Sands, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025 Silver Creek took a 7-0 lead after one, but the Ravens showed mettle. Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 27 Sep. 2024 The iconic holiday tune proved its mettle once again, returning this week to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, an event her 13-year-old twins Moroccan and Monroe commemorated Monday with a surprise flower delivery onstage in Raleigh, N.C. Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 12 Dec. 2024 October was much better, however, and involved two matches where Flick believes his young side proved its mettle. Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for mettle 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mettle
Noun
  • Amidst these challenges, ‘Vallejo’ shines a light on the resilience of young athletes who find solace and strength on the baseball field.
    Katcy Stephan, Variety, 23 Jan. 2025
  • Its strength also has to do with the water under the ice and the distribution of the load on the ice, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
    Don Sweeney, Sacramento Bee, 23 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Doing it in back-to-back years would require amazing stamina. 7.
    Austin Meek, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025
  • Biden dropped out of the 2024 race in July amid concerns over his age and stamina and endorsed Vice President Harris, who lost to Trump in November.
    Alex Gangitano, The Hill, 18 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Though presidential pardoning powers are absolute, such a preemptive move would be a novel and risky use of the president's extraordinary constitutional power.
    WILL WEISSERT THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, arkansasonline.com, 18 Jan. 2025
  • The power of PileMate in Sag Harbor is prominent, especially in wintertime.
    Lauren Carpenter, USA TODAY, 18 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • What sets Chappell apart is her courage to be herself in every sense: her honesty, her individuality, and her commitment to creating meaningful music.
    Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 21 Jan. 2025
  • By using universal themes—service, courage, and shared purpose—these leaders spoke to the core of human experience.
    Scott Hutcheson, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025

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Thesaurus Entries Near mettle

Cite this Entry

“Mettle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mettle. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on mettle

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