mettle

noun

Definition of mettle
as in strength
strength of spirit; ability to continue despite difficulties He showed his mettle as a fighter tonight with a heroic comeback.

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word mettle distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of mettle are courage, resolution, spirit, and tenacity. While all these words mean "mental or moral strength to resist opposition, danger, or hardship," mettle suggests an ingrained capacity for meeting strain or difficulty with fortitude and resilience.

a challenge that will test your mettle

When can courage be used instead of mettle?

While the synonyms courage and mettle are close in meaning, courage implies firmness of mind and will in the face of danger or extreme difficulty.

the courage to support unpopular causes

When could resolution be used to replace mettle?

The words resolution and mettle are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, resolution stresses firm determination to achieve one's ends.

the resolution of pioneer women

When might spirit be a better fit than mettle?

The meanings of spirit and mettle largely overlap; however, spirit also suggests a quality of temperament enabling one to hold one's own or keep up one's morale when opposed or threatened.

her spirit was unbroken by failure

How do tenacity and resolution relate to one another, in the sense of mettle?

Tenacity adds to resolution implications of stubborn persistence and unwillingness to admit defeat.

held to their beliefs with great tenacity

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of mettle The mysteries begin to mount practically from minute one, when John’s father returns home in his army uniform and tests John’s mettle by shooting an apple off his head with a handgun. — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 17 Aug. 2026 Despite a reign criticized for over 100 days without a defense, Morgan proved her mettle. — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026 Her first year in office is shaping up to be a test of her mettle. — Ann Scott Tyson, Christian Science Monitor, 29 July 2026 Game situations and moments of adversity ultimately test the mettle of a team’s core values. — Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for mettle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mettle
  1. strength
  2. stamina
  3. power
  4. courage
Noun
  • The show is leaning into its strengths, dialing up the madcap comedy and overlapping dialogue while keeping the story lines rooted in recognizable rites of passage for young people.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Divya brings an incredible depth and emotional strength to the ensemble, and the combination of these three actors makes the world of the film particularly special.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of strength
Noun
  • That's far better than most other gaming handhelds, especially compared with my personal Pocket, which has seen a severe drop in stamina over the last few years and can now only last two or three hours at best.
    — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 22 Aug. 2026
  • But what stuck out more than the Giants’ toughness in those skirmishes was their football stamina.
    — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of stamina
Noun
  • The park still doesn’t have power, internet or phone lines after Lala swept by last week, and many of its employees are still recovering from the storm.
    — Tyler Ory, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The events have all had a Trumpian flair, featuring appearances from his friends and the aim of showcasing spectacle, Americana and power.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of power
Noun
  • As her translator, Anedda’s thought, as well as some of her courage, became part of my existence in the long months such a project entails.
    — Wallis Wilde-Menozzi, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2026
  • With their conceit, the clout chasers have turned his courage into a template without asking what made the original worth copying.
    — Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of courage

Phrases Containing mettle

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mettle
mettlesome
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Cite this Entry

“Mettle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mettle. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

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