as in strength
strength of spirit; ability to continue despite difficulties
He showed his mettle as a fighter tonight with a heroic comeback.
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Recent Examples of mettle
Oklahoma City is still relatively young for a championship contender, but the Thunder showed their mettle against the Nuggets and managed to slow down Jokić enough to come out on top.
—
The Athletic Nba Staff, New York Times, 20 May 2025
All being well, The New Yorker can be expected to provoke any future historians with its mettle, its range, its vexing quirks, and the fizz of its curiosity.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 5 May 2025
For New Off-Roaders: The Old Mojave Road Bought your first 4×4 and want to test its mettle?
—Wes Siler, Outside Online, 27 Mar. 2025
To her supporters, however, the implosion of her cabinet dream was a gift in disguise, one that proved her mettle as someone willing to stomach a personal setback for the good of the team and set her up for something potentially better down the line.
—Annie Karni, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mettle
The Athletic Nba Staff, New York Times, 20 May 2025
All being well, The New Yorker can be expected to provoke any future historians with its mettle, its range, its vexing quirks, and the fizz of its curiosity.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 5 May 2025
For New Off-Roaders: The Old Mojave Road Bought your first 4×4 and want to test its mettle?
—Wes Siler, Outside Online, 27 Mar. 2025
To her supporters, however, the implosion of her cabinet dream was a gift in disguise, one that proved her mettle as someone willing to stomach a personal setback for the good of the team and set her up for something potentially better down the line.
—Annie Karni, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mettle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mettle
Noun
-
Harnessing a diversity of strengths, skills and knowledge lies at the heart of effective change management.—
Kelly Leonard,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
-
Lorna Mae isn’t the source of Tyson’s strength, though, but his vulnerability.—
Mark Kriegel
June 4,
Literary Hub,
4 June 2025
Noun
-
And although the oceanic and overland legs of Twain’s journey required more patience and stamina than even a flight out of Newark, the hassle—and, more especially, the expense—worked in his favor.—
Caity Weaver,
The Atlantic,
5 June 2025
-
Anyone unfamiliar with the basic combat rhythm of blocking, dodging, and expended precious stamina for an attack will die repeatedly even from basic groups of foes.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
28 May 2025
Noun
-
While the Marines are expected to avoid direct engagement with demonstrators, the symbolism of active-duty troops patrolling the streets of Los Angeles has reignited deep political tensions and legal debates over the limits of federal power.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
11 June 2025
-
Money becomes power, and without clinical oversight, that power enables harmful behaviors.—
John Samuels,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
Noun
-
Police in Largo shared a video of the encounter, as Officer Christopher Martinez, from Long Island, tried to work up the courage to hold the alligator.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
14 June 2025
-
If any courage is left at the Bar’s elegant headquarters in Tallahassee, the Bondi exemption should be rescinded.—
The Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mettle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mettle. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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