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steady

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noun

steady

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective steady differ from other similar words?

The words equable and even are common synonyms of steady. While all three words mean "not varying throughout a course or extent," steady implies lack of fluctuation or interruption of movement.

steady progress

When could equable be used to replace steady?

The meanings of equable and steady largely overlap; however, equable implies lack of extremes or of sudden sharp changes.

maintain an equable temper

When would even be a good substitute for steady?

While the synonyms even and steady are close in meaning, even suggests a lack of variation in quality or character.

an even distribution

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 steady
Adjective
That's up from 46% in 2024 and 30% in 2023, a steady and significant increase. Emily Forlini, PC Magazine, 28 May 2025 Aries Shuhua Xiong Building the foundation of dreams fulfilled Slow and steady, Aries. Colin Bedell, Them., 28 May 2025
Noun
LeBron is living proof that to the steady goes the race. cleveland, 2 Feb. 2023 Lucid sold other shares to other groups, but the deal kept the PIF's overall investment in Lucid steady, at around 62 percent, according to CNBC. Sebastian Blanco, Car and Driver, 30 Jan. 2023
Verb
These are issues that, as the first American Pope, Leo may well have to address in order to steady the disagreements amongst U.S. bishops. Callum Sutherland, Time, 9 May 2025 As Venus and Neptune align, keeping one foot on the ground steadies an overactive imagination. Usa Today, USA Today, 2 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for steady
Recent Examples of Synonyms for steady
Adjective
  • Alternatively, seersucker remains a steadfast warm-weather favorite—especially for those who appreciate a touch of New England preppiness.
    Brett F. Braley-Palko, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
  • The single combines the guitarist’s weighted influence with the música mexicana group’s steadfast ambition.
    Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 30 May 2025
Adjective
  • But frequent policy shifts and developments have been muddying the picture.
    Sophie Kiderlin, CNBC, 30 May 2025
  • But some critics have noted his erratic behavior, such as his Nazi-like gesture at a rally, garbled answers during interviews, and frequent insults of top Trump officials.
    Nik Popli, Time, 30 May 2025
Adjective
  • In an interview with PEOPLE tied to the U.S. release of -196 vodka seltzer, Jonas, 37, spoke about the emotional toll that an international tour can take on musicians, especially coming off of the high of constant action and adrenaline.
    Emily Rella, People.com, 26 May 2025
  • The fact that a classic Porsche 911 will soon be available on the collector-car market is not necessarily newsworthy, as the ubiquitous, nearly 62-year-old model is a constant offering at auctions, whether through online platforms or in-person events.
    Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 26 May 2025
Adjective
  • On top of this, REITs can change their investment strategy annually, making the investment journey anything but steady and unchanging.
    Chay Lapin, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
  • The animation in short films up until that point had been silly, vaudeville-inflected; mostly featuring animals because humans were too hard to draw in an appealing way — mostly with static and unchanging expressions, on flat, simplistic backgrounds.
    Constance Grady, Vox, 21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • To be fair to les frères Dardennes, there is a reliable level of unshowy competence as well as an integrity to their insistence on embedding with unglamorous, recognizable people.
    Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 23 May 2025
  • The problem with inland water Environmental scientists have a reliable way of monitoring the water quality at popular coastal beaches, often by taking samples on a daily or weekly basis.
    Angela Haupt, Time, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • One video supplied by the source purportedly shows the Belaya airfield in flames and the voice of the head of the SBU, Lt. Gen. Vasyl Malyuk, commenting on the situation.
    Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 2 June 2025
  • Preparation is informal, taking place over an open flame or in the home kitchen, with Dimas and his mother often cooking side by side.
    Jordi Lippe-McGraw, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
Verb
  • Cox, which says ISPs shouldn't have to terminate customers based on unproven allegations of copyright infringement, has been seeking Supreme Court review of Sony's victory in the underlying lawsuit.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 28 May 2025
  • In a recent review paper, our team summarized how chronic stress is a hidden but powerful factor underlying cognitive aging, or the speed at which your cognitive performance slows down with age.
    Jennifer E. Graham-Engeland, The Conversation, 28 May 2025
Adjective
  • His close friends and colleagues often described him as loyal, deeply thoughtful, and warm in his own way—just not overly expressive.
    Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 May 2025
  • The friends not keen on competing become our valiant team of producers — recording content and posting updates live for our loyal Instagram fanbase (almost 200 followers).
    Mia Venkat, NPR, 31 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Steady.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/steady. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

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