steelier; steeliest
1
: resembling or suggesting steel (as in hardness, color, strength, or coldness)
steely determination
steely blue
2
: made of steel
steeliness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of steely in a Sentence
a thief with steely nerves
He had a steely determination to succeed.
She gave him a steely gaze.
a sky filled with steely gray clouds
the judge's steely blue eyes
Recent Examples on the Web
Conservative lawmakers like the steely Sir Iain Duncan Smith, are − for the first time in a long time − on the sharp end of an election.
—
Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 2 July 2024
Nicole Powell is excellent and frequently very funny in the role of Fitzgerald’s steely, long-suffering cousin Georgiana, bringing something of a Black Allison Janney quality to the character.
—Duante Beddingfield, Detroit Free Press, 20 June 2024
Still, Mahomes’ steely gaze, steady body language and efficient play this postseason foreshadows a cold-blooded killer strutting into Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium on Sunday.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 9 Feb. 2024
There’s a steely calculus behind that ubiquity: nearly 28 months into a brutal war with Russia, as Ukraine is struggling to hold its own against a far more powerful foe, maintaining European backing is considered nothing short of mission-critical.
—Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for steely 
Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 2 July 2024
Nicole Powell is excellent and frequently very funny in the role of Fitzgerald’s steely, long-suffering cousin Georgiana, bringing something of a Black Allison Janney quality to the character.
—Duante Beddingfield, Detroit Free Press, 20 June 2024
Still, Mahomes’ steely gaze, steady body language and efficient play this postseason foreshadows a cold-blooded killer strutting into Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium on Sunday.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 9 Feb. 2024
There’s a steely calculus behind that ubiquity: nearly 28 months into a brutal war with Russia, as Ukraine is struggling to hold its own against a far more powerful foe, maintaining European backing is considered nothing short of mission-critical.
—Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for steely
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'steely.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near steely
Cite this Entry
“Steely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/steely. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
steely
adjective
steelier; steeliest
1
: made of steel
2
: resembling steel (as in hardness or color)
a steely gaze
steeliness
noun
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