1
as in encouraging
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in strengthening
to make able to withstand physical hardship, strain, or exposure
years of running a farm had steeled the hard-bitten woman
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in bracing
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for steeling
Verb
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There was a lot to like about Jovic’s performance on Saturday, with Heat veteran guard Norman Powell pushing and encouraging him along the way.—
Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 9 Nov. 2025
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Salt-n-Pepa also joined in, and the group of artists concluded the set with a call-and-response moment alongside the crowd, encouraging everyone to scream along.—
Verb
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Mothers Against Drunk Driving was founded in 1980 by Candy Lightner and has succeeded in strengthening DUI laws across the nation.—
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His work focuses on expanding access, strengthening global engagement, and creating practical pathways that can help institutions connect with learners across borders.—
Verb
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Wisconsin is bracing for a weekend snow event that could make travel tricky across parts of the state.—
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Packing for winter trips used to mean bracing myself for clothes that simply didn’t fit right.—
Verb
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And where once America built the best, most awe-inspiring buildings in the entire world, now they are instead increasingly found in places like Dubai and China.—
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Although Snook, who was nominated for a 2026 Golden Globe Award for All Her Fault, has not publicly shared her daughter's name, the actress credited her for inspiring her performance during season 4 of Succession.—
Verb
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Propose a clear boundary with a sibling (or close friend) to stop resentment from hardening.—
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Those upgrades involve hardening vulnerable infrastructure, improving outage detection and restoration, and preparing the grid for increasingly extreme weather.—
Verb
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The ensuing film combines soul with CGI, fortifying the lofty reputation Pixar had already built by 2001, just six years into its theatrical run.—
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Instead of fortifying their position, the Pats watched while a few competitors stocked up around them.—
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Cite this Entry
“Steeling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/steeling. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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