mettle

[ met-l ]

noun

1. courage and fortitude:

   a man of mettle.

   Synonyms: fiber, nerve, ardor, vigor, pluck, valor

2. disposition or temperament:

   a man of fine mettle.

mettle

/ ˈmɛtəl /

noun

1. courage; spirit
2. inherent character
3. on one's mettle
   on one's mettle roused to putting forth one's best efforts

Word History and Origins

Origin of mettle¹

1575–85; spelling variant of metal, in metaphoric usages

Word History and Origins

Origin of mettle¹

C16: originally variant spelling of metal

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. on one's mettle, in the position of being incited to do one's best:

   The loss of the first round put him on his mettle to win the match.

Example Sentences

Bryson DeChambeau to test his long-driving mettle in professional event after Ryder CupJust after midnight on the Saturday before the Masters, Rahm’s wife, Kelley, gave birth to the couple’s first child, a son they named Kepa.

From Washington Post

In this sport, the test of team’s mettle extends through that hated and revered 162-game schedule, and the Dodgers won in 2020 with a shortened season.

From Washington Post

We both personally know the mettle, pride, and attitude of these young warriors, and they will not back down.

From Time

Some Olympic hopefuls have been competing in recent weeks, but many others have been waiting — training alone or with their teammates, itching to start testing their mettle with the Winter Games just around the corner.

From Washington Post

With the men’s college basketball season less than a week old, the Maryland Terrapins had yet to face a tricky predicament, a situation that truly tested their mettle and ability.

From Washington Post

But will it keep women of talent and substance and mettle and ambition from gunning it forward?

From The Daily Beast

Perhaps unsurprisingly, his mettle in polar extremes far outstrips his writing ability.

From The Daily Beast

If their corner does not have the lights to see what is in the offing, then the boxer has to have the mettle to say “enough.”

From The Daily Beast

Perhaps to prove its literary mettle, A Time to Kill, at first, sold only modestly (it has since sold fifteen million copies).

From The Daily Beast

The presidency subjects American incumbents to perennial gut checks, testing their mettle.

From The Daily Beast

From there on Piegan set a pace that taxed our horses' mettle—that was one consolation—we were well mounted.

From Project Gutenberg

The cook, placed upon her mettle, served a delicious repast—a luscious tenderloin broiled a point.

From Project Gutenberg

Unfortunate Dabbler, now upon his mettle, declared that "should he ever want satisfaction, his solicitor should get it for him."

From Project Gutenberg

They presented a fine picture of eager, determined young manhood, clean and healthy, and full of life and mettle.

From Project Gutenberg

He was burning for a fight, and thought that if he could get down the river he might give the British a taste of his mettle.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bravery
• caliber
• courage
• fortitude
• grit
• spunk
• stamina
• temperament