noun
mettle
MEH-tuhl
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.