You searched for: “mettle”
metal, mettle
metal (MET'l) (noun)
A substance, such as gold, tin, or copper, that usually has a shiny appearance, is a good conductor of electricity and heat, can be melted, and is usually capable of being shaped: Scraps and sheets of metal from piles of discarded metal products are being reprocessed.

mettle (MET'l) (noun)
Character, spirit, ardor, courage, stamina; the ability to continue something despite difficulties: This sporting event will test her mettle as a competitor in the upcoming winter event.

Under such stress, Marjory revealed an unexpected mettle.

Is it metal or mettle that is needed in stressful situations?

Did the Norsemen have mettle, or metal, craftiness, and good ships?

The most common error is to use metal in the sense of showing or trying one's physical and mental hardiness; so, remember that to show your mettle, you should be in sound physical condition.

This entry is located in the following unit: Confusing Words Clarified: Group M; Homonyms, Homophones, Homographs, Synonyms, Polysemes, etc. + (page 3)