mettle

noun

met·tle ˈme-tᵊl How to pronounce mettle (audio)

: vigor and strength of spirit or temperament (see temperament sense 1a)

a girl of … mettle who lost a baby brother to leukemia

Bill Zehme

: staying quality : stamina

equipment that proved its mettle

proved his mettle in battle

: quality of temperament or disposition

gentlemen of brave mettle

William Shakespeare

mettled

ˈme-tᵊld

adjective

Did you know?

Is mettle Connected to Metal?

Originally, mettle was simply a variant spelling of the word metal (which dates to at least the 13th century), and it was used in all of the same senses as its metallic relative. Over time, however, mettle came to be used mainly in figurative senses referring to the quality of someone's character. It eventually became a distinct English word in its own right, losing its literal sense altogether. Metal remained a term primarily used for those hard, shiny substances such as steel or iron, but it also acquired a figurative use. Today, both words can mean "vigor and strength of spirit or temperament," but only metal is used of metallic substances.

Example Sentences

The competition will test her mettle.

Recent Examples on the Web The Wisconsin volleyball team’s mettle was tested in the Kentucky heat Friday night.

Mark Stewart, Journal Sentinel, 10 Sep. 2022 Beginning Sunday, the squad will try to keep pace in a jumbled Eastern Conference playoff race while testing its mettle against the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chicago Fire, and New York City FC.

BostonGlobe.com, 26 Aug. 2022 McIlroy authored another tour de force north of the border at St. George’s Golf & Country Club in Toronto on Sunday with a brilliant display of scoring and overcoming a stretch that tested his mettle to win his 21st PGA Tour title.

Steve Dimeglio, USA TODAY, 12 June 2022 The machines have proven their commercial mettle during disrupted supply chains and has offered rapid prototyping capabilities to at-home renaissance workers looking to aid the health care industry.

WIRED, 28 Aug. 2022 Down on the field, meanwhile, teenagers bit down hard on their mouth guards, bracing for contact while finally getting their chance to prove their mettle, the way their dads and brothers and uncles and cousins had proven theirs.

Mike Finger, San Antonio Express-News, 27 Aug. 2022 She’s a person with a stronger sense of herself and a stronger mettle than Jimmy.

Greg Braxtonsenior Writer, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2022 The test doesn’t measure character, creativity, tenacity, mettle or any other personal characteristic a student would need to become a successful lawyer.

WSJ, 4 Aug. 2022 The moment when our measure will be taken, our mettle tested, our gristle flicked, our gristle wrung, and our gristle kissed.

Dan Abromowitz, The New Yorker, 4 July 2022 See More

单词	on one's mettle
释义	mettle noun met·tle ˈme-tᵊl 1 a : vigor and strength of spirit or temperament (see temperament sense 1a) a girl of … mettle who lost a baby brother to leukemia Bill Zehme b : staying quality : stamina equipment that proved its mettle proved his mettle in battle 2 : quality of temperament or disposition gentlemen of brave mettle William Shakespeare mettled ˈme-tᵊld adjective Phrases on one's mettle : aroused to do one's best Did you know? Is mettle Connected to Metal? Originally, mettle was simply a variant spelling of the word metal (which dates to at least the 13th century), and it was used in all of the same senses as its metallic relative. Over time, however, mettle came to be used mainly in figurative senses referring to the quality of someone's character. It eventually became a distinct English word in its own right, losing its literal sense altogether. Metal remained a term primarily used for those hard, shiny substances such as steel or iron, but it also acquired a figurative use. Today, both words can mean "vigor and strength of spirit or temperament," but only metal is used of metallic substances. Example Sentences The competition will test her mettle. Recent Examples on the Web The Wisconsin volleyball team’s mettle was tested in the Kentucky heat Friday night. Mark Stewart, Journal Sentinel, 10 Sep. 2022 Beginning Sunday, the squad will try to keep pace in a jumbled Eastern Conference playoff race while testing its mettle against the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chicago Fire, and New York City FC. BostonGlobe.com, 26 Aug. 2022 McIlroy authored another tour de force north of the border at St. George’s Golf & Country Club in Toronto on Sunday with a brilliant display of scoring and overcoming a stretch that tested his mettle to win his 21st PGA Tour title. Steve Dimeglio, USA TODAY, 12 June 2022 The machines have proven their commercial mettle during disrupted supply chains and has offered rapid prototyping capabilities to at-home renaissance workers looking to aid the health care industry. WIRED, 28 Aug. 2022 Down on the field, meanwhile, teenagers bit down hard on their mouth guards, bracing for contact while finally getting their chance to prove their mettle, the way their dads and brothers and uncles and cousins had proven theirs. Mike Finger, San Antonio Express-News, 27 Aug. 2022 She’s a person with a stronger sense of herself and a stronger mettle than Jimmy. Greg Braxtonsenior Writer, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2022 The test doesn’t measure character, creativity, tenacity, mettle or any other personal characteristic a student would need to become a successful lawyer. WSJ, 4 Aug. 2022 The moment when our measure will be taken, our mettle tested, our gristle flicked, our gristle wrung, and our gristle kissed. Dan Abromowitz, The New Yorker, 4 July 2022 See More Word History Etymology alteration of metal First Known Use 1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Phrases Containing mettle on one's mettle prove one's mettle show one's mettle on one's mettle prove one's mettle show one's mettle Kids Definition mettle noun met·tle ˈme-tᵊl : strength of spirit : courage The competition will test her mettle. on one's mettle phrase as in intent fully committed to achieving a goal They could see that he was on his mettle before the big game. Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance intent determined resolute positive firm resolved out decisive bent (on or upon) hell-bent (on or upon) confident purposeful serious bound single-minded adamant earnest bitter do-or-die set certain persistent hard steady willful sure unwavering vehement unfaltering hardened unswerving unrelenting uncompromising unyielding stubborn rigid headstrong cocksure inflexible obdurate dogged implacable immovable tenacious unbending perverse hardheaded unhesitating pigheaded mulish adamantine pertinacious wilful self-willed Antonyms & Near Antonyms unresolved wavering faltering suspicious unsettled undetermined indecisive uncertain doubtful hesitant dubious distrustful skeptical irresolute unconvinced vacillating reluctant mistrustful unsure undecided weak-kneed loath indisposed loathe loth disinclined See More
随便看	lose (to) lose all self-control lose consciousness lose count lose everything lose face lose faith in lose favor lose ground lose heart lose in translation lose it lose momentum lose money lose no time lose one's appetite lose one's balance lose one's bearings lose one's composure lose one's cool lose one's cool/composure lose one's grip lose one's head lose one's heart lose one's heart (to)

mettle

noun

Did you know?

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing mettle

Kids Definition

noun

phrase