steel-hearted
Definition
Adjective: - Having a heart of steel: "steel-hearted" describes a person who is emotionally unyielding, tough, or resolute; lacking in compassion or sympathy, often in a determined or unshakeable manner.
Usage Examples
- (Unmoved by suffering; resolute in cruelty.)
- (Firm and unyielding in her stance.)
- (Lacking emotional warmth.)
Advanced Usage
"a steel-hearted resolve": an inflexible determination.
- The general showed a steel-hearted resolve to win the war at any cost. (Unwavering and harsh commitment.)
"steel-hearted indifference": a cold, unfeeling detachment.
- Her steel-hearted indifference to the child's tears shocked everyone. (Complete lack of emotional response.)
Variants and Related Words
Steel-heartedness (noun): the quality of being steel-hearted.
- His steel-heartedness was both admired and feared. (The state of being unyielding.)
Steel (noun): a hard, strong metal; used metaphorically for toughness.
- She had nerves of steel. (Extreme toughness or bravery.)
Heart (noun): the center of emotion; used to indicate feeling or compassion.
- He has a kind heart. (A compassionate nature.)
Synonyms
- Unfeeling: lacking sympathy or emotion.
- Ruthless: having no pity or compassion.
- Inexorable: impossible to stop or prevent; unyielding.
- Hard-hearted: lacking in tender feelings; cold.
Antonyms
- Tender-hearted: kind and compassionate.
- Soft-hearted: easily moved to sympathy.
- Compassionate: feeling or showing pity.
Related Idioms
"Heart of stone": a cold, unfeeling nature.
- Even after his apology, she had a heart of stone and refused to forgive. (Complete lack of mercy.)
"Steel one's heart": to make oneself hard or unfeeling.
- He had to steel his heart to leave his family behind. (To suppress emotion deliberately.)