noun
mettle
MEH-tuhl
Mettle (noun) means Courage, strength of character, and determination in the face of difficulty. Example: “The rookie proved her mettle during the final, high-pressure match.”
noun
1
Courage, strength of character, and determination in the face of difficulty.
"The rookie proved her mettle during the final, high-pressure match."
"This crisis will really test the new manager's mettle."
How to use mettle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishInner toughness and courage, especially when things get hard.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with metal (the material) — mettle refers only to character and courage.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
test someone's mettle
prove one's mettle
show mettle
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The rookie proved her _____ during the final, high-pressure match.
Etymology
A figurative spelling variant of metal, dating back to the 1500s; the two words were once interchangeable before splitting into separate meanings in the 1700s.
Class of 1500
mettle joined the language around 1500.
See the full Class of 1500 →
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for mettle
See all rhymes for mettle →Frequently asked questions
What does “mettle” mean?
The word “mettle” means courage, strength of character, and determination in the face of difficulty. In plain terms, inner toughness and courage, especially when things get hard.
How do you pronounce “mettle”?
“Mettle” is pronounced MEH-tuhl (/ˈmɛtəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “mettle” in a sentence?
Here is “mettle” used in a sentence: “The rookie proved her mettle during the final, high-pressure match.”
What part of speech is “mettle”?
“Mettle” is a noun.
Where does the word “mettle” come from?
The word “mettle” dates back to around 1500. A figurative spelling variant of metal, dating back to the 1500s; the two words were once interchangeable before splitting into separate meanings in the 1700s.
