Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of steely
Explanation
Anything that's steely resembles the metal called steel in some way—it's either hard, strong, bright, or silvery. A sword, a shade of gray, and even a look can be steely. You might describe the steely glint of the polished silverware on the table, or the steely blue of your cat's eyes. If someone questions you with a steely coldness, they are hard and emotionless—as cold as steel. You could also describe this person as "flinty" or "stony," other unbending adjectives. When steely was first used in the 16th century, it also described things literally "made of steel."
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.
Rodriguez, who works in real-estate marketing, thought back to the smooth sounds of Steely Dan, the Eagles and Fleetwood Mac from the 1970s and 1980s that had been in heavy rotation for her this year.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 4, 2025
The band formed in the summer of 1985 - when Ross moved from Dundee to Glasgow - taking their name from the 1977 Steely Dan song Deacon Blues.
From BBC • Mar. 21, 2025
This year’s Songwriters Hall of Fame class was previously announced as Steely Dan, R.E.M.,
From Seattle Times • May 9, 2024
Beard, also a composer and producer, had collaborated with Steely Dan since the early aughts, bringing his music to releases including its 2003 album, “Everything Must Go.”
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2024
Like I did when I told that story just now about Steely Jack.
From The Kingdom Round the Corner A Novel by Dawson, Coningsby
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.
