1
as in gruff
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance
pinned them with a steely gaze and demanded to know what they were doing
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in grey
of the color gray
steely eyes that are the color of a stormy sky
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Recent Examples of steely
What an opportunity getting to play someone who is steely and strong and manipulative and just bad, basically.
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Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024
Like the film itself, Hanks is no-nonsense as a commander who reveals little about himself between barking orders and offering steely words of encouragement to the inexperienced, frightened young men around him.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 2 Nov. 2024
If not, look for Fred Warner to revert into early-season MVP mode as his troublesome ankle and steely mindset recharge over the bye.
—Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 1 Nov. 2024
In this week’s crop of new tunes, Willie Nelson and Ringo Starr issue sterling new songs, once again showcasing their timeless approaches, while Drew Baldridge follows his breakthrough hit with a new track celebrating steely determination and fortitude.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 28 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for steely 
Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024
Like the film itself, Hanks is no-nonsense as a commander who reveals little about himself between barking orders and offering steely words of encouragement to the inexperienced, frightened young men around him.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 2 Nov. 2024
If not, look for Fred Warner to revert into early-season MVP mode as his troublesome ankle and steely mindset recharge over the bye.
—Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 1 Nov. 2024
In this week’s crop of new tunes, Willie Nelson and Ringo Starr issue sterling new songs, once again showcasing their timeless approaches, while Drew Baldridge follows his breakthrough hit with a new track celebrating steely determination and fortitude.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 28 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for steely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for steely
Adjective
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And two of the other main actors had actually died, one during the shooting, Oliver Reed [who played the gruff gladiator trainer].Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Dec. 2024
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Hearing those words, spoken in a gruff North of England accent, most Irish people over 40 will immediately start to hum a super-catchy guitar riff inspired by Celtic rockers Horslips.Jeff Rueter, The Athletic, 23 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The clip shows the kitten sitting on the owner's bed, looking impossibly cute with her plush grey fur and its big eyes.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2024
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For the occasion, Bieber paired a cropped grey sweater with low-slung black trousers—a rather simple Thanksgiving look for the fashion-forward model, if not for one chic outfit upgrade.Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 29 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Eldest children may create stern rules for their kids, such as a chore chart and strict bedtime routines.Alex Vance, Parents, 9 Dec. 2024
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The speaker of the National Assembly read a stern statement on camera demanding that the president hold off a visit to the National Assembly until security matters are ironed out.Joohee Cho, ABC News, 7 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The singer highlighted his new mustache with a lime green turtleneck under a boxy gray blazer and paired the look with classic black dress pants.Rachel Raposas, People.com, 2 Dec. 2024
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For a complete makeup look that doesn’t require you to dip into a ton of eyeshadow palettes, the Morphe Matte Essentials Artistry Palette features 18 neutral shades in nudes like tan, brown, gray, and black.Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 2 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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With his reputation and legacy on the line, Jay-Z is in for a fierce fight.Molly McPherson, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
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Bridging the hoedown and the ballroom, Beyoncé alternates between angelic croons and fierce commands over a thumping bassline and a springy acoustic guitar.Stephen Kearse, TIME, 9 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The Roots also performed with child-friendly instruments and with silver pompoms in hand as a wink to the lyrics.Marina Watts, People.com, 27 Nov. 2024
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While the hot pants, halter top, and fringed vest are made by their in-house seamstress Meagan Tate and Brad Oldham, brother of famed jeweler Todd Oldham, designed the silver belt buckle, the cheerleaders’ cowboy boots are made by luxury brand Lucchese.Elise Taylor, Vogue, 26 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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That knowledge adds additional layers of defiance and bravery to this grim tale, which incorporates actual protest footage and video of police brutality to amplify the narrative’s verisimilitude.Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 28 Nov. 2024
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Commentators speculated that numerous suppliers in the car industry would inevitably have to slash salaries in an already grim job market in the new year.Juliana Liu, CNN, 28 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Despite its modernity, Greenland retains a rugged charm.David Nikel, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024
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Gifting’s clearly top of mind over at Carhartt, where hoodies, rugged shoes, and accessories like duffel bags and leather wallets are up to 40% off for one day only.Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 2 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near steely
Cite this Entry
“Steely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/steely. Accessed 13 Dec. 2024.
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