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Definitions

steely

[stee-lee] / ˈsti li /

ADJECTIVE

cold-blooded

Synonyms

STRONGEST

barbarous brutal callous hardened inhuman merciless ruthless

WEAK

cold dispassionate hard-boiled hard-hearted imperturbable matter-of-fact obdurate pitiless relentless savage stony-hearted uncompassionate unemotional unfeeling unmoved

Antonyms

STRONGEST

compassionate feeling gentle giving kind nice sympathetic

WEAK

demonstrative friendly merciful warm-blooded

ADJECTIVE

flinty

Synonyms

STRONGEST

stony

WEAK

cruel firm hard inflexible rigid unsympathetic unyielding

ADJECTIVE

icy

Synonyms

STRONGEST

cold distant forbidding frigid frosty glacial stony

WEAK

chill emotionless hostile indifferent unemotional unfriendly unwelcoming

Antonyms

STRONGEST

amicable friendly hot sympathetic warm

ADJECTIVE

inalterable

Synonyms

STRONG

unalterable

WEAK

adamant adamantine determined dogged dyed-in-the-wool firm fixed hard hard-and-fast immovable immutable implacable indomitable inexorable intractable invariable iron ironclad obdurate obstinate relentless resolute rigid rigorous set set in one's ways single-minded stand one's ground staunch steadfast stiff strict stringent unadaptable unbending unchangeable uncompliant uncompromising unrelenting unswayable unyielding

ADJECTIVE

inflexible

Synonyms

STRONGEST

adamant immutable intractable obstinate resolute rigid rigorous steadfast strict stringent uncompromising unyielding

WEAK

adamantine determined dogged dyed-in-the-wool firm fixed hang-tough hard hard-and-fast immovable implacable indomitable inexorable iron obdurate relentless set set in one's ways single-minded stand one's ground staunch stiff unadaptable unbending unchangeable uncompliant unrelenting unswayable

Antonyms

STRONGEST

amenable cooperative easygoing flexible irresolute lenient pliant soft submissive tolerant willing yielding

WEAK

bendable elastic pliable reasonable resilient

ADJECTIVE

iron

Synonyms

STRONGEST

rigid

STRONG

adamant firm heavy immovable steel thick unbending

WEAK

adamantine cruel dense ferric ferrous implacable indomitable inexorable insensible obdurate relentless robust strong stubborn unyielding

Antonyms

STRONG

flexible loose moving pliant slight soft supple yielding

WEAK

weak

ADJECTIVE

stern

Synonyms

STRONGEST

flinty grim hard-nosed harsh rigid strict tough

STRONG

ascetic astringent bitter forbidding rough

WEAK

austere bullheaded by the book cruel disciplinary dyed-in-the-wool frowning hang-tough hard hard-boiled hard-core hard-line hard-shell hardheaded implacable inexorable inflexible mortified mulish relentless rigorous severe stiff-necked stubborn unrelenting unsparing unyielding

Antonyms

STRONGEST

easy flexible gentle kind lenient nice soft yielding

STRONG

bland mild

WEAK

cheerful funny light smiling tolerant

ADJECTIVE

stiff

Synonyms

STRONGEST

arthritic creaky rigid solid stark tense thick tight wooden

STRONG

brittle buckram firm refractory rheumatic set

WEAK

annealed benumbed cemented chilled congealed contracted fixed frozen graceless hardened immalleable impliable incompliant indurate inelastic jelled mechanical numbed ossified petrified resistant solidified starched starchy stiff as a board stony taut thickened unbending unflexible ungraceful unsupple unyielding

Antonyms

STRONGEST

bending flexible loose pliable slack soft

STRONG

indefinite supple

WEAK

pliant

ADJECTIVE

stonyhearted

Synonyms

WEAK

barbarous brutal callous cold cold-hearted compassionless dispassionate hard hard-boiled hard-hearted hardened hardhearted heartless imperturbable inhuman matter-of-fact merciless obdurate pitiless relentless ruthless savage stony-hearted uncompassionate unemotional unfeeling unmoved

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Yet even Honor is cowed by the household’s steely Yugoslav maid, Greta, who dismisses all heartbreaks and hysterics with the motto, “play stupid games, win stupid prizes.”

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

But I look at this year’s official poster — Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis striking a steely pose from 1991’s “Thelma & Louise” — and can’t help but wonder if Hollywood has changed irrevocably.

From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2026

Like so many other TV personalities in 2026, she cannot move her forehead, giving her already steely vibe the facial permanence of a screengrab.

From Slate • May 6, 2026

This steely calm in the credit market “should not come as a huge surprise,” analyst Tan Kai Xian at Gavekal wrote on Wednesday.

From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026

“He doesn’t know what he wants to be,” Dad said, leveling a steely gaze at me.

From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam

steely

Example Sentences

Related Words