Skip to content
GREMockTests
GRE vocabulary

mettlesome

adjectiveHigh-frequency wordMore M words

full of spirit and courage; determined and brave

Word origin: From mettle, a variant of metal, meaning quality of temperament.

In a sentence

Mettlesome in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing mettlesome in a sentence.

The mettlesome young soldier volunteered for the most dangerous missions.

The mettlesome young attorney took on the powerful firm despite long odds and a meager budget.

Synonyms
courageousspiritedplucky
Antonyms
timidcowardlyspineless
Usage & nuance

Using “mettlesome” well

Mettlesome means full of spirit, courage, and determination, drawing on mettle, meaning strength of character. Note that mettle is a homophone of metal but distinct in meaning.

Common questions

Questions about “mettlesome

Mettlesome (adjective) means full of spirit and courage; determined and brave
Here is mettlesome used in an example sentence: "The mettlesome young soldier volunteered for the most dangerous missions." Another example: "The mettlesome young attorney took on the powerful firm despite long odds and a meager budget."
Common synonyms for mettlesome include courageous, spirited, plucky.
Antonyms of mettlesome include timid, cowardly, spineless.
Mettlesome clusters with courageous, spirited, and plucky. Its antonyms timid, cowardly, and spineless mark the contrasting trait.
Yes. Mettlesome is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

Learn words the way the GRE tests them.

Vocabulary sticks when you meet it in real sentences. Practise these words inside text completion and sentence equivalence questions.