Meaning & use
Steely
Last updated
Hard, cold, or unyielding in manner or determination, resembling the strength of steel.
See it in a sentence
She fixed him with a steely gaze that made it clear she wasn't backing down.
Despite the pressure, the coach maintained a steely composure throughout the final minutes.
A note on using this word
While "steely" can describe the literal gray-blue color of steel, it's most often used figuratively to describe grit and determination.
Words with a similar meaning
resoluteunyielding
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
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