Steely Meaning
/ˈstiːli/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjHaving qualities resembling those of steel, especially hardness and resoluteness.
adjMade of steel.
Sentence Examples
He transfixed me with two sharp, steely eyes.
Tom is already an old man with steely grey hair.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The experienced athlete's ____ gaze showed no fear before the important race.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She gave him a ____ look when he tried to make yet another excuse for why he was so late for the meeting.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree English steel Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Germanic *-gaz Proto-West Germanic *-g Old English -iġ Middle English -y English -y English steely From steel + -y.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"She would unarm her noble heart of that steely resistance against the sweet blows of love."
— a. 1587, Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “(please specify the folio)”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London: […] [John Windet] for William Ponsonbie, published 1590, →OCLC:
"Freddie Woodman was ultimately the hero after making a superb 74th-minute penalty save to deny Adalberto Peñaranda. Woodman, the son of former Northampton Town goalkeeper Andy and godson of Southgate, made a steely left-handed save from the spot-kick after Dominic Calvert-Lewin had given England a first-half lead."
— 2017 June 11, Ben Fisher, “England seal Under-20 World Cup glory as Dominic Calvert-Lewin strikes”, in The Guardian:
"Broach'd with the steely point of Clifford's lance."
— c. 1591–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii]:
"Around his shop the steely sparkles flew."
— [1716], [John] Gay, “(please specify the page)”, in Trivia: Or, The Art of Walking the Streets of London, London: […] Bernard Lintott, […], →OCLC:
"And in the master's chambers / They gathered for the feast / They stab it with their steely knives / But they just can't kill the beast"
— 1977, “Hotel California”, in Don Henley, Glenn Frey (lyrics), Don Felder and Joe Walsh (music), Hotel California:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The experienced athlete's ____ gaze showed no fear before the important race.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She gave him a ____ look when he tried to make yet another excuse for why he was so late for the meeting.