From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishsteelysteel‧y /ˈstiːli/ adjective 1 DETERMINEDextremely determined and very strong a look of steely determination2 if someone has steely eyes or is steely-eyed, they look very determined3 CChaving a grey colour like steel a steely sky
Examples from the Corpus
steely• Howard Saddler plays Cassius with steely determination, persuasive in his arguments that initially draw Brutus into the conspiracy.• But her steely determination to make her way in a cruel world has done its own damage.• A steely haze hung over the factory.• By now Dad was sixty-five, and what little lenience he may once have possessed had long since hardened into steely inflexibility.• Lord Halifax was a cold fish, a man of steely rectitude, a religious man.• He had a steely streak but his morals and scruples were beyond reproach.• He was tall and sinewy, and his fingers gripped her arms with a steely strength.• No detectable makeup clutters a face that can go steely with the certainty of design convictions.steely determination• During their time together, Rigby recognised the steely determination Gedge applied to the group.• Then she saw the look of steely determination in his eyes and knew he was more than capable of it.• Howard Saddler plays Cassius with steely determination, persuasive in his arguments that initially draw Brutus into the conspiracy.• But her steely determination to make her way in a cruel world has done its own damage. 