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
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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
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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
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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
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of steel
Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Jan. 2025
Crafted with a rust-resistant steel frame and all-weather faux wicker, this patio chair set is built to thrive outdoors, rain or shine.
—Bailey Berg, Architectural Digest, 10 Jan. 2025
Erika Tulfo, CNN, 15 Dec. 2024
In the Cold War years, as the US sought to limit the spread of communism abroad, political leaders promoted the concept of domestic containment at home to steel American society against the purportedly undermining influences of socialism.
—Elizabeth Friend, Longreads, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for steel 
Noun
The stairs, made of wood, would be about 5 feet wide and feature steel threads instead of handrails.
—Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Jan. 2025
Crafted with a rust-resistant steel frame and all-weather faux wicker, this patio chair set is built to thrive outdoors, rain or shine.
—Bailey Berg, Architectural Digest, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
Companies have also been steeling themselves for a busier-than-usual holiday season.
—Erika Tulfo, CNN, 15 Dec. 2024
In the Cold War years, as the US sought to limit the spread of communism abroad, political leaders promoted the concept of domestic containment at home to steel American society against the purportedly undermining influences of socialism.
—Elizabeth Friend, Longreads, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for steel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for steel
Noun
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Remarkably, researchers also recovered parts of the sword’s scabbard—a sheath of wood and leather lined in beaver fur.Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Jan. 2025
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Morita tried to take off his master’s head with a sword, but made a botch of it; another disciple had to finish the job.Ian Buruma, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Their ability to bring this personal journey, which is not only my directorial debut but my artistic life’s most significant work, transforms the pain of generations past into something that can heal and inspire others to choose empathy and compassion.Matthew Carey, Deadline, 15 Jan. 2025
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For a creative twist to any day on the island, The Library by the Sea serves up cocktails inspired by literary classics in a setting that feels both elegant and imaginative.Melissa Noel, Essence, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
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That connection was strengthened when Godbolt suffered a stroke in November.Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 16 Jan. 2025
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States can follow the FTC's lead by strengthening anti-trust laws, and enforcing them aggressively, to fight the harm to workers from mergers and other forms of corporate over-concentration—like the Albertsons-Kroger merger, which federal agencies and state attorneys general blocked.Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Advertisement As Donald Trump’s inauguration nears, the group is bracing for what the future might bring under a president who has vowed to send military troops to the border and launch mass deportations on Day One.Mariana Martínez Barba, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2025
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Capitol Hill is now bracing for what could be a contentious battle over emergency spending in light of the devastation the fires have left throughout the Los Angeles region.Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 17 Jan. 2025
Verb
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More muscular policing by NATO in the Baltic might encourage more assertive Chinese naval activity in the South China Sea, for example, or encourage more Iranian interdictions in the Persian Gulf.David Brennan, ABC News, 13 Jan. 2025
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They are also encouraged by recent digital activity around its content on outlets such as YouTube.Brian Steinberg, Variety, 13 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The move recognizes the town’s work to mitigate future fires by clearing trees and hardening homes.Jake Bittle, WIRED, 9 Jan. 2025
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After sitting indoors all winter, your plant needs to be hardened off by gradually acclimating it to the outdoors.Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Biden could have fortified these protections, using the United States’ influence and meeting its responsibilities as a superpower, one of the founders of international humanitarian law, one of the world’s largest arms suppliers, and the UN’s largest contributor.Sarah Yager, Foreign Affairs, 14 Jan. 2025
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Get more information on fortifying your home from wildfires here.KABC STAFF, ABC News, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Fabricated from the double-layered material used in conveyor belts, its oatmeal-colored shape could bear up to 500 pounds of weight—ultimately solidifying the tote’s status in the pantheon of carryalls.Boutayna Chokrane, WIRED, 16 Dec. 2024
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The eating tray can be easily attached and bear up to 30 lbs.Nora Colomer, Fox News, 27 July 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near steel
Cite this Entry
“Steel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/steel. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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