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Synonyms

mettle

American  
[met-l] / ˈmɛt 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.

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.
mettle British  
/ ˈmɛtəl /

noun

  1. courage; spirit

  2. inherent character

  3. roused to putting forth one's best efforts

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of mettle

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

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.

While that may be unfashionable in today’s world of prediction markets, cryptocurrencies, and highflying artificial-intelligence bets, Vanguard Wellington has long proven its mettle and is likely to keep doing so.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

Murrayfield should be a huge examination of their new found mettle, though.

From BBC • Feb. 13, 2026

Turner said Darnold showed his mettle by directing the game-winning drive against the Rams the last time they visited Lumen Field.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 22, 2026

Under the direction of a game master, players confront a series of scenarios testing their managerial mettle.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 1, 2026

“I want more mettle, if you please, lady. Whatever anyone tells me to do, I do, whether I want to or not. I’ve always been this way, but I wish I weren’t.”

From "Ella Enchanted" by Gail Carson Levine

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.