as in sword
a hand weapon with a length of metal sharpened on one or both sides and usually tapered to a sharp point
drew steel on the bandits, who immediately fled for their lives
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in to inspire
to fill with courage or strength of purpose
hoped that his inspirational talk would steel the youths in the pursuit of their dreams
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to strengthen
to make able to withstand physical hardship, strain, or exposure
years of running a farm had steeled the hard-bitten woman
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to brace
to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally
he had spent the previous night steeling himself for the moment when he would demand a raise
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of steel
Arkansas Online, 27 Mar. 2025
In mid-March, the European Union (EU) announced retaliatory tariffs against Trump's steel and aluminum tariffs on approximately $28 billion of U.S. exports.
—Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025
A.o. Scott, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025
Recall huge longshot Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike won this race on his way to steeling the 2022 Kentucky Derby at 80/1 parimutual odds.
—Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for steel
Noun
The impending hit comes on top of other U.S. tariffs planned globally on steel and aluminum, and at a time when competition from China, and the transition to electric vehicles, is already pressuring automakers.
—Arkansas Online, 27 Mar. 2025
In mid-March, the European Union (EU) announced retaliatory tariffs against Trump's steel and aluminum tariffs on approximately $28 billion of U.S. exports.
—Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025
Verb
The speaker here is one of those men — summoning his courage in the face of terror, steeling himself for the unimaginable.
—A.o. Scott, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025
Recall huge longshot Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike won this race on his way to steeling the 2022 Kentucky Derby at 80/1 parimutual odds.
—Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for steel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for steel
Noun
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Trade War Adds Recession Risks U.S. tariff threats and trade policies have been weaponized to advance U.S. geopolitical conflict deterrence and economic statecraft, acting as the sword and shield of economic security to support U.S. self-sufficiency and undercut Chinese economic power.—
Jason Schenker,
Forbes.com,
2 Apr. 2025
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Wielding Excalibur, the sword of myth, Gawain grows more powerful as the sun rises, reaching peak strength at midday.—
Alan Yuhas,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The collection’s color palette of taupe, beige and white was inspired by Palazzo Pitti, the Renaissance palace in Florence where Brioni first staged a men’s runway show in 1952.—
Hikmat Mohammed,
Footwear News,
28 Mar. 2025
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Get inspired by a weekly roundup on living well, made simple.—
Madeline Holcombe,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
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To strengthen cultural ties between France and the U.S. by promoting the work of a young contemporary composer, Pisar initiated the Pisar Prize, a collaboration between Juilliard and Théâtre des Champs-Élysées.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
10 Apr. 2025
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Women directors can take a lead role in strengthening stakeholder relations.—
Committee of 200,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Goldman Sachs worries the stock drawdown is about to get worse, and is bracing for wider credit spreads and a recession.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
9 Apr. 2025
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Digital Commerce Companies: These businesses, including e-commerce platforms and payment processors, are pulling back on public offering plans and bracing for pain.—
Jon Cherry,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
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To bring in more visitors, Katsuo-ji came up with a creative way to encourage tourists to engage with the Daruma dolls.—
Rebecca Cairns,
CNN Money,
8 Apr. 2025
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The frantic trading, which sent stocks spiking before plummeting again, showed how investors are operating on a hair trigger and are eager for any sign of encouraging news.—
Chris Megerian,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
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To start, harden off your seedlings over a two-week period and then plant them in a sunny, well-draining garden bed or 8- to 12-inch pots.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Apr. 2025
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The Mexican leader did harden her language on the topic following the Los Alegres del Barranco concert.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The slightly curved wand coats each lash in nourishing ingredients—biotin helps to fortify lashes to protect against breakage, while antioxidant-rich ingredients like peptides, vitamin E, and panthenol help to condition and hydrate.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
26 Mar. 2025
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Though the Steelers have made a concerted effort to fortify the trenches, this move that’s felt inevitable for some time.—
Mike DeFabo,
New York Times,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Each electrode pair weighs 1.5 g, bears up to 100 N, and changes states in less than 30 ms.—
Erico Guizzo,
IEEE Spectrum,
20 May 2016
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In 1970, the average Chinese woman was expected to bear up to six children throughout her lifetime.—
Micah McCartney,
Newsweek,
22 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Steel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/steel. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.
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