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
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of steely
An underused Baranski delivers her usual dazzle as Victoria, and Kidman once again commits fully to the steely Russian enigma known as Masha.
—
Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 19 May 2025
Then came the Ravel, played with a steely determination to get through the not-ideal circumstances.
—Anastasia Tsioulcas, New York Times, 19 May 2025
Even with his steely determination, Fitzpatrick knows that Scheffler is a different beast when he's locked in.
—Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 May 2025
Not so in Greta Gerwig’s spirited retelling, in which she’s played with steely determination by Laura Dern.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 11 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for steely
Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 19 May 2025
Then came the Ravel, played with a steely determination to get through the not-ideal circumstances.
—Anastasia Tsioulcas, New York Times, 19 May 2025
Even with his steely determination, Fitzpatrick knows that Scheffler is a different beast when he's locked in.
—Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 May 2025
Not so in Greta Gerwig’s spirited retelling, in which she’s played with steely determination by Laura Dern.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 11 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for steely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for steely
Adjective
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While Hornets fans were not as gruff as New York Knicks or Boston Celtics supporters, Charlotte pro basketball fans were among the leaders who posted a specific swear word.—
Kendrick Marshall,
Charlotte Observer,
6 June 2025
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Paul is lovable but gruff, while Jimmy is lost and a bit broken after having lost his wife in a drunk driving accident.—
Hedy Phillips,
People.com,
2 May 2025
Adjective
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The dour, grey mood of the show is lightened by plenty of moments of humor.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
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His main rival is Hulk, who is as strong as him, and he is usually seen wearing a dark grey helmet with a horn, much like a real rhino.—
Sarah Scott,
Parents,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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It’s submerged 11 to 15 feet deep, with its stern facing the shore.—
Sarah Kuta,
Smithsonian Magazine,
11 June 2025
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Tonight: Explore! TAURUS (April 20-May 20) ★★★ Avoid arguments with others today, which might arise with Mercury in your House of Communications at odds with stern Saturn.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
9 June 2025
Adjective
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Snag it in three colors — blue, back, or gray — to match your existing decor.—
Jacqueline Tempera,
People.com,
7 June 2025
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Witnesses described him as a white male with salt-and-pepper hair, driving a silver or gray Chevy Malibu.—
Doc Louallen,
ABC News,
6 June 2025
Adjective
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Sanders’s Senate counterpart, Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT), is a fierce Trump critic.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
13 June 2025
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Meta’s big bet on Wang fits into CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s plans to bolster his company’s AI efforts amid fierce competition from OpenAI and Google-parent Alphabet.—
Jonathan Vanian,
CNBC,
13 June 2025
Adjective
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For silver storage, visit this piece about cleaning and maintaining your silver pieces.—
Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott,
Southern Living,
14 June 2025
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Hadid, 30, kept it chic but casual in a white tee with silver pants, a light wash denim jacket, chain necklace and sneakers, with her blonde hair slicked back in a bun.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
People.com,
14 June 2025
Adjective
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The two men shook hands, and Mamdani slipped away looking grim.—
Eric Lach,
New Yorker,
13 June 2025
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Previous reporting about the district’s measles protection drew from the Illinois Department of Public Health’s measles outbreak simulator dashboard, which had painted a potentially grim picture for the district.—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
12 June 2025
Adjective
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The image of a bourbon drinker has too often been that of a white cis male and his friends hanging out in rugged environments.—
Diana Lambdin Meyer,
USA Today,
7 June 2025
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More than 100 officers are involved in the search covering rugged terrain in Washington's Cascade Mountains, with over 500 tips received from the public, according to the Chelan County Sheriff's Office.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Steely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/steely. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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