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mettlesome

mettlesome

1 8.8
Being brave and full of energy when facing danger
  • adjective
  • /ˈmɛtəlˌsʌm/
: valiente
  • Right away, Kelly reported, she had a following, a mettlesome band of students who lingered in her classroom after school, vying for her attention.

Examples

  • "She looks set to be quite a mettlesome miss."

    Fiction book (1993)
  • I was touched by the humor of my grandmother and uncles, and I was mettlesome when the warden observed my responses.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • The mettlesome soldier charged bravely into battle, ready to face any danger.

  • Her mettlesome spirit inspired the entire team to push through the difficult challenges.

  • Despite the icy weather, the mettlesome hiker continued to climb the steep mountain trail.

Synonyms

brave
vsmettlesome
860 1.0

Has courage when facing danger, pain or fear

is similar but adds a sense of lively spirit and willingness
game
vsmettlesome
  • Informal
58 6.8

Willing to try something new or risky

is comparable but stresses courage mixed with lively willingness
gritty
vsmettlesome
38 5.5

Brave and determined when things are difficult or dangerous

is like this but stresses lively willingness rather than enduring toughness
spunky
vsmettlesome
  • Informal
17 4.6

Brave and full of energy and determination

is like this but slightly more about general liveliness than grit
hardy
vsmettlesome
13 3.9

Able to live and grow in cold or bad weather

focuses more on spirited courage rather than physical endurance
stalwart
vsmettlesome
4 7.6

Strong and able to keep working in hard conditions

emphasizes lively bravery and willingness rather than physical robustness
spirited
vsmettlesome
3 4.3

Brave and determined when facing danger or difficulty

is similar but emphasizes plain spirit rather than active energy
manful
vsmettlesome
  • Archaic
1 8.0

Showing courage, strength, or strong determination

expresses the same bravery but without gendered connotations
mettled
vsmettlesome
  • Archaic
1 7.7

Being brave and determined, not giving up easily

is the common adjective form with identical meaning to that expression
stouthearted
vsmettlesome
1 8.2

Brave and determined when facing danger or hard times

is similar but places more weight on lively spirit than steady resolve
warriorlike
vsmettlesome
1 7.9

Being very brave and ready to fight

shares courage but is less about combatlike qualities and more spirit
gamy
vsmettlesome
  • Archaic
1 8.5

Brave and willing to face danger

is similar but focuses more on general courage than risk taking
steely-nerved
vsmettlesome
1 8.3

Very calm and brave in dangerous or difficult situations

is like this but is more about lively eagerness than steady control
battleful
vsmettlesome
  • UK
9.9

Ready to fight or argue

is similar in bravery but is less about aggression and more about spirit

Antonyms

115 1.3

Feeling afraid or nervous and easily frightened

56 3.5

Shy and afraid to do new or risky things

How Courageous

intrepid
25 7.9
courageous
156 3.3
mettlesome
1 8.8
feisty
61 4.8
spirited
64 4.1

Surface Forms

mettlesome positive

Morphology

mettlesome = mettle (transparent) = mettle + some

Formed directly from 'mettle' + the adjectival suffix '-some', meaning 'full of mettle' (spirited/courageous), so learners who know 'mettle' can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Mettlesome comes from mettle, which was once the same word as metal and meant a 'hard substance' and then 'spirit'. So to be mettlesome is like being strong like metal — full of 'spirit' and 'courage'.