Meaning & use

mettle

noun·Advanced

Last updated

Courage, resolve, and strength of character, especially when facing a difficult challenge.

See it in a sentence

The rescue tested every firefighter's mettle.

She proved her mettle by finishing the marathon despite the injury.

A note on using this word

Almost always appears in the phrase 'test/prove one's mettle'; don't confuse with the similar-sounding 'metal.'

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

cowardiceweakness

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