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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.

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

Washington, he says, has failed to take account of Iran's steely determination.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

She has a steely warmth but little vulnerability, almost too perfect.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

She softens the character’s steely edges, turning a proud and almost rapacious woman into a mere doting mom.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 14, 2026

Her eyes soften, and the steely, Blackcliff-trained part of me shakes its head.

From "An Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir