as in swords
a hand weapon with a length of metal sharpened on one or both sides and usually tapered to a sharp point
drew steel on the bandits, who immediately fled for their lives
Synonyms & Similar Words
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1
as in inspires
to fill with courage or strength of purpose
hoped that his inspirational talk would steel the youths in the pursuit of their dreams
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in strengthens
to make able to withstand physical hardship, strain, or exposure
years of running a farm had steeled the hard-bitten woman
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3
as in braces
to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally
he had spent the previous night steeling himself for the moment when he would demand a raise
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of steels
Jesse Raub, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
Nickel is primarily used to make stainless steel and other alloy steels, as well as batteries.
—Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2025
Noun
For example, stainless steel has the addition of chromium to add rust resistance, while alloy steels might add nickel, copper, or aluminum to serve as construction material.
—Jesse Raub, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
Nickel is primarily used to make stainless steel and other alloy steels, as well as batteries.
—Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for steels
Noun
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The two playfully go at it with bright yellow swords made of balloons.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
10 Sep. 2025
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Clowns entertain crowds at local fairs by twisting skinny balloons into poodles and swords.—
Susan Tompor,
Freep.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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That insight has guided the team at Typhur, headquartered in San Jose at the heart of Silicon Valley, a location that inspires them to engineer precision with intuitive design.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
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SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Allison Parshall,
Scientific American,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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This strengthens the case that a massive, hidden planet orbiting inside the disk has been shaping its structure since the system’s youth.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Sep. 2025
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The bill strengthens protections against antisemitism and all forms of discrimination in K-12 schools by setting clear classroom standards, increasing accountability for local school agencies and establishing teacher and administrator training.—
Daniel Klein,
Mercury News,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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As Chicago braces for a similar crackdown, the Los Angeles effort topped 5,000 arrests last week.—
Elliot Spagat,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
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As Major League Baseball reportedly braces for its own salary cap, these risks only grow.—
Jesse Silvertown,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Combined, the ingredients are a powerhouse that encourages surface skin cell turnover to give complexions an overall smooth, supple appearance.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
11 Sep. 2025
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Through speculative thinking and the power of the arts, this collection encourages us to see ourselves outside of the constraints that persist today.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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When a partner continually feels trapped behind excuses or counterattacks, the original frustration then hardens into resentment.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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But as Beijing hardens its ties with Russia, North Korea and other nations unfriendly to the West, the emergence of two camps and the contest between them appears clearer than ever.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Avoiding the below mistakes not only fortifies digital-first customer service strategies but will also reshape the controversial narrative around chatbots.—
Gary Drenik,
Forbes.com,
21 Aug. 2025
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The future Hall of Famer only fortifies the talented roster, and gives Houston an experienced star who has the championship hardware to prove it.—
Valentina Martinez,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Steels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/steels. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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