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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in grey
of the color gray
steely eyes that are the color of a stormy sky
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of steely
The voice-over in the videos, which nodded ironically to the steely voices of old-fashioned science documentaries, urged younger viewers to think of deëxtinction technology as cool.
—
D. T. Max, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
Kilmer demonstrated an incredible range, bouncing between slapstick zaniness, high drama, breathless action, and steely determination.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 2 Apr. 2025
The stories sit like figures in a painting by Alice Neel, if all the camaraderie in Neel’s work were drained out: staring straight ahead, some steely, some yearning, countenances slightly askew, drawn with thick streaks of candor, elbows jutting sideways.
—Audrey Wollen, Harpers Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025
Edgecombe sealed the win with a steely 10-point second-half performance.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for steely
D. T. Max, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
Kilmer demonstrated an incredible range, bouncing between slapstick zaniness, high drama, breathless action, and steely determination.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 2 Apr. 2025
The stories sit like figures in a painting by Alice Neel, if all the camaraderie in Neel’s work were drained out: staring straight ahead, some steely, some yearning, countenances slightly askew, drawn with thick streaks of candor, elbows jutting sideways.
—Audrey Wollen, Harpers Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025
Edgecombe sealed the win with a steely 10-point second-half performance.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for steely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for steely
Adjective
-
Bowling paints with the rhythm of a gruff intellectual.—
James Russell,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Apr. 2025
-
The actor behind the gruff but lovable Roy Kent shared a purrfectly eccentric analogy about the show's return on a recent episode of NPR's Wild Card podcast.—
Jessica Wang,
EW.com,
21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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For a warm and welcoming design idea, such as a patio hugged in greenery, consider a cream-colored block—a nice middle ground between edgy grey concrete and natural stone.—
Katherine McLaughlin,
Architectural Digest,
18 Apr. 2025
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Lindo, at 6 feet 4 inches, enters the restaurant on an overcast Wednesday afternoon, sporting aviator shades, a thin, grey beanie, and a colorful summer scarf of different orange, pink, and yellow hues.—
Nick Romano,
EW.com,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The Raid 2, for instance, a two and a half hour crime and punishment epic, boils down to one man’s struggle to win the approval of his stern father; whether this is significant to Evans’ life or not, the motif nonetheless transitions cleanly into Havoc.—
Andy Crump,
Time,
26 Apr. 2025
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The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has issued a stern warning about a predatory fish that can grow up to 3 feet long, slither across land and breathe air.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
People.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The women also showed off their personal style, with Karen Fairchild opting for an orange minidress under a gray suit jacket and fishnet stockings, and Kimberly Schlapman choosing a black minidress with fuzzy fringe on the bottom.—
Lori A Bashian Fox News,
FOXNews.com,
19 Apr. 2025
-
Choose from four different finishes: brown, dark brown, gray wash, and white wash.—
Ali Faccenda,
People.com,
19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Melania Trump has courted controversy, garnered attention for her fashion Trump's fashion choices are the subject of fierce controversy and constant attention.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2025
-
Seven new projects debut on the 15-spot roster, making competition surprisingly fierce.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
In celebration of this historic ride, M.S. Rau in New Orleans is offering three silver pieces handcrafted by the American revolutionary, including a coffee pot for $1,285,000.—
Richard Johnson,
New York Daily News,
13 Apr. 2025
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The Academy Award-winning actress paired the look with dangling diamond earrings, a silver Gucci clutch purse and metallic platform high-heel shoes.—
Lori A Bashian Fox News,
FOXNews.com,
12 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
His grim work handling dead sheep gives the movie its title, but little time is actually spent at Stan’s job.—
Tim Grierson,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2025
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Set in a grim, unnamed American city, Havoc follows a bruised detective, played by Hardy, who must fight his way through a criminal underworld to rescue a politician's estranged son, all while unraveling the deep layers of corruption.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Premiering April 20 on Nat Geo and streaming April 21 on Disney+ and Hulu, the three-part series is a visual triumph made possible by engineering grit, field science, and the kind of rugged tech innovation typically reserved for space exploration.—
Tony Bradley,
Forbes.com,
20 Apr. 2025
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Unveiled at the Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025, this futuristic machine is built to handle rugged terrain with ease, combining cutting-edge robotics and sustainable energy.—
Fox News Staff,
FOXNews.com,
19 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Steely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/steely. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
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