as in sword
a hand weapon with a length of metal sharpened on one or both sides and usually tapered to a sharp point
drew steel on the bandits, who immediately fled for their lives
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in to inspire
to fill with courage or strength of purpose
hoped that his inspirational talk would steel the youths in the pursuit of their dreams
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to strengthen
to make able to withstand physical hardship, strain, or exposure
years of running a farm had steeled the hard-bitten woman
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to brace
to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally
he had spent the previous night steeling himself for the moment when he would demand a raise
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of steel
Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Israel is now focusing on targeting Iran's steel and petrochemical industries which are important for Iran's economy and military.
—Npr Staff, NPR, 5 Apr. 2026
Troy Renck, Denver Post, 23 Jan. 2026
Shoulders sagging, Charleigh set the wooden spoon down, steeling herself.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for steel
Noun
Upgrades will require significant reinforcement of some walls and elevator shafts, though engineers have found ways to do the work by pouring new concrete footings and installing additional steel bracing without significantly impinging on internal spaces or being visible on exterior surfaces.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Israel is now focusing on targeting Iran's steel and petrochemical industries which are important for Iran's economy and military.
—Npr Staff, NPR, 5 Apr. 2026
Verb
And this game plan demands his best work, steeling Jarrett Stidham for the biggest challenge of his career, or any career for that matter.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 23 Jan. 2026
Shoulders sagging, Charleigh set the wooden spoon down, steeling herself.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for steel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for steel
Noun
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The person opened the door armed with a sword and stabbed a Boston Police officer in the arm and knocked the clinician to the ground, according to police.—
Riley Rourke,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
-
In the biblical sequence Hanke invoked, the plowshares-into-swords moment is the penultimate act—the mobilization before the reckoning.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The new menu reflects a broader trend in stadium dining, where teams are looking into unique and locally inspired food items, while also enhancing the overall game day experience.—
Jasmine Arenas,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
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While breakfast and lunch are served à la carte, Chef Luca’s dinner menu changes daily, inspired by the season and its available ingredients.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Teamwork strengthens as the caring Moon and triumphant Jupiter team up to support your casual friendships and deeper connections.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The advisory will likely be extended through Friday afternoon and the winds will shift and strengthen.—
Chelsea Hylton,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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With some non-citizens no longer eligible for Cal Fresh benefits, Orange County food banks are bracing for an influx of clients.—
Michele Gile,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
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After an exceptionally active winter, South Dakota is bracing for another winter storm in early spring, a reminder that the snow isn’t quite ready to pack up yet.—
Brandi D. Addison,
Sioux Falls Argus Leader,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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And there were a number of terrorist organizations that sought to encourage the British to leave, thus creating a united Ireland.—
Colm Tóibín,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
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Teammates encouraged her and one even lifted her chin, but the damage was done.—
David Brandt,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Physically frail, yet in full verbal command, Julian doesn’t talk to Lori so much as at her, pausing only to fire off questions that harden, in midair, into assumptions.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
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As ideological blocs collapsed, political scientist Samuel Huntington’s influential 1996 book Clash of Civilizations articulated a growing anxiety that globalization would harden into cultural antagonism rather than consensus.—
Daniel Birnbaum,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Slivers of domestic Wagyu tenderloin sit in a deep salsa negra fortified with soy sauce.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Apr. 2026
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Celebrity hairstylist Sami Knight recommends focusing on products that support scalp health and strengthen the hair fibers — like the Epres bond repair treatment, which can repair and fortify damaged strands.—
Rebecca Strong,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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It can also be used as a bench, bearing up to 355 pounds.—
Caitlyn Martyn
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
11 Aug. 2025
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Harriet remembered there was something: inexpressibly affecting in the aspect of the frail little creature who had done such wonderful things, and who was able to bear up, with so bright an eye and so composed a countenance, under not only such a weight of sorrow, but such a prospect of solitude.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Steel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/steel. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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