mettle

Synonym Chooser

How is the word mettle distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of mettle are courage, resolution, spirit, and tenacity. While all these words mean "mental or moral strength to resist opposition, danger, or hardship," mettle suggests an ingrained capacity for meeting strain or difficulty with fortitude and resilience.

a challenge that will test your mettle

When can courage be used instead of mettle?

While the synonyms courage and mettle are close in meaning, courage implies firmness of mind and will in the face of danger or extreme difficulty.

the courage to support unpopular causes

When could resolution be used to replace mettle?

The words resolution and mettle are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, resolution stresses firm determination to achieve one's ends.

the resolution of pioneer women

When might spirit be a better fit than mettle?

The meanings of spirit and mettle largely overlap; however, spirit also suggests a quality of temperament enabling one to hold one's own or keep up one's morale when opposed or threatened.

her spirit was unbroken by failure

How do tenacity and resolution relate to one another, in the sense of mettle?

Tenacity adds to resolution implications of stubborn persistence and unwillingness to admit defeat.

held to their beliefs with great tenacity

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of mettle To control the damage and prove his mettle, Hegseth barnstormed the Capitol for meetings with mostly Republican senators. Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 23 Jan. 2025 There are some who would prefer to see Bivol take on David Benavidez, the monstrous puncher who has proven his mettle at super middleweight and light heavyweight. Brian Mazique, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025 Across two record-setting seasons, Alan Ritchson has proved his mettle and then some as larger-than-life antihero Jack Reacher on Prime Video’s Reacher. Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Feb. 2025 After proving his mettle with such menial jobs, Marks told me, he was eventually given a different but no less innocuous assignment: spend time brushing up on the NBA’s collective-bargaining agreement. Jordan Sargent, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mettle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mettle
Noun
  • There’s an inner strength that comes out when needed.
    Jordan Greene, People.com, 28 Feb. 2025
  • State of play: Boyce will take over a department that is still trying to reach full strength.
    Zachery Eanes, Axios, 28 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Theory one: After producing nine Bond films over 30 years, starting with GoldenEye in 1995, Broccoli no longer has the stomach or stamina for another years-long Bond production marathon.
    Benjamin Svetkey and Julian Sancton, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Feb. 2025
  • The terms refer to any exercise that enhances a muscle's overall strength or stamina.
    Katrina Carter, Verywell Health, 13 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • That power is vested in prosecutors as executive branch officials.
    Michael Rothfeld, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2025
  • Her lung power seems surprisingly undiminished, and the same goes for her sense of pitch.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 7 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • That all-important contrast is missing (as are any employees who do the manual labor of cleaning up after the guests), which is why the show feels like a deflated satire that never had the courage of its convictions to begin with.
    Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2025
  • While initially working in a hair salon in his hometown of Houston, Guerrero worked up the courage to move to L.A. to pursue his dreams.
    Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Mettle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mettle. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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