1
as in gruff
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance
pinned them with a steely gaze and demanded to know what they were doing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in gray
of the color gray
steely eyes that are the color of a stormy sky
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 steely
Chow Yun-fat stars as a steely, toothpick-chewing detective who seeks vengeance after gun smugglers kill his partner.
—
Eric Farwell,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 June 2026
His glare was still there, steely and intentional.
—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
28 May 2026
Operational secrecy was preserved with steely discipline, and Israel was utterly deceived and taken by surprise.
—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
21 May 2026
To browse her collections is to be confronted with the full spectrum of colors offered by the gem, from vibrant gold and soft lavender, to steely grey and rich plum.
—
Kate Matthams,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for steely
Eric Farwell,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 June 2026
His glare was still there, steely and intentional.
—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
28 May 2026
Operational secrecy was preserved with steely discipline, and Israel was utterly deceived and taken by surprise.
—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
21 May 2026
To browse her collections is to be confronted with the full spectrum of colors offered by the gem, from vibrant gold and soft lavender, to steely grey and rich plum.
—
Kate Matthams,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for steely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for steely
Adjective
-
Abraham Lincoln furiously scribbled in Springfield on June 27, 1858, firing off a gruff note to the editor-in-chief of the Chicago Press & Tribune, then in business for only 11 years.
-
But Rose bet that a less gruff voice, ultimately Mike Brown’s, was required to win it all.
Adjective
-
The most common cat colors are orange, black, cream or gray, but cats can come in unique hues, such as chocolate or lilac.
-
In his apartment officers found black and gray clothing Fleming wore during the robberies as well as a black duffel bag, a gun belt with a holster, a large sum of cash still wrapped in bank currency bands, and multiple guns.
Adjective
-
England, which has been patchy so far, poses the sternest test yet for the co-hosts.
-
With upcoming opponents Croatia providing a sterner test in possession, Portugal’s defensive display will be under greater scrutiny.
Adjective
-
Three people were in the silver Chevrolet truck, and all managed to escape with minor cuts and scrapes, the sheriff’s office said.
-
Gomez looked on proudly while stunning in what appeared to be a one-shoulder, sparkly silver number, as seen in photos obtained by TMZ of Gomez leaving MSG.
Adjective
-
The 2023 arrest of her then-10-year-old cousin for urinating in public brought fierce condemnation.
-
For a party that prides itself on diversity, the clashes have exacerbated fierce debates over identity politics and long-standing rifts between progressives and moderates.
Adjective
-
The tragedy marks the first deaths for the US Wildland Fire Service, a grim milestone for the new federal agency, which launched in January to coordinate firefighting efforts on public land.
-
While that’s a grim statistic, change is possible.
Adjective
-
In the midst of the rugged match, Sweden lost one of its top players to a non-contact injury.
-
The search for Gracie the giraffe, missing in Texas, hit its two-week mark on June 25 as the manager of her ranch is continuing to scour rugged terrain from the ground and sky.
Adjective
-
The caps, made from real bear skin, are a distinctive part of the military uniform, designed to make troops appear taller and more intimidating.
-
The one witness everyone in the courtroom remembers was Watkins, an intimidating presence with the build of an NFL defensive tackle.
Cite this Entry
“Steely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/steely. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
