steady 1 of 3

adjective

ˈste-dē How to pronounce steady (audio)
Definition of steadynext
1
as in steadfast
firm in one's allegiance to someone or something even as wild accusations were circulating, she remained steady in her support for the candidate

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in frequent
appearing or occurring repeatedly from time to time a popular author who produces a steady output of best sellers year after year

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in constant
not undergoing a change in condition a steady breeze from the west

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in unchanging
not varying support for her presidential bid has been steady

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in reliable
worthy of one's trust a quiet but steady man who is one of the pillars of the community

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

steady

2 of 3

noun

as in flame

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steady

3 of 3

verb

as in to underlie

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective steady differ from other similar words?

The words equable and even are common synonyms of steady. While all three words mean "not varying throughout a course or extent," steady implies lack of fluctuation or interruption of movement.

steady progress

When could equable be used to replace steady?

The meanings of equable and steady largely overlap; however, equable implies lack of extremes or of sudden sharp changes.

maintain an equable temper

When would even be a good substitute for steady?

While the synonyms even and steady are close in meaning, even suggests a lack of variation in quality or character.

an even distribution

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of steady
Adjective
Batteries help maintain a steady flow of power when sources such as solar and wind are not producing. — ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026 Traders are now pricing in an 85% chance of the Fed holding interest rates steady, according to the CME FedWatch Tool. — Sean Conlon,sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2026
Noun
But if hiring steadies while inflation remains elevated, policymakers may opt to hold rates steady for several months. — Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025 Use a tripod or stand Keeping your phone steady will ensure photos are sharp and crisp, not blurry. — Melina Khan, IndyStar, 12 Nov. 2025
Verb
The increase in Treasury yields triggered a sell-off of Asian and Australian bonds, appearing to confirm that US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s attempt to steady the government debt market had backfired. — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 11 Sep. 2026 By the 11th game of the third set, Keys was hitting herself in the head with her racket, taking her cap off and sighing deep breaths that were either meant to steady her or out of exasperation. — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for steady
Recent Examples of Synonyms for steady
  1. steadfast
  2. frequent
  3. constant
  4. unchanging
  5. reliable
  6. flame
  7. underlie
  8. staunch
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, waiting in the wings is a man of few words — and initially, few feelings, or so thinks Marianne — the steadfast Colonel Brandon (Herbert Nordrum).
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The poem continues with more verses about Burns’s steadfast love, but beyond that, nothing really happens.
    — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of steadfast
Adjective
  • The scale of the decline triggered a circuit breaker, temporarily halting trading on the exchange — a frequent occurrence this year in a stock market dominated by just two stocks.
    — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The survey also found links between binge eating and frequent social media use (checking platforms at least hourly), poor mental health, and suicidality.
    — Sarah Todd, STAT, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of frequent
Adjective
  • Related Stories The growing muscle that YouTube flexes as the video crossroads of the world was a near-constant subject of conversation.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
  • To rely on him on a day-to-day basis is to live under conditions of constant disappointment.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of constant
Adjective
  • His unchanging mind leads to an act of extreme violence against Leo.
    — Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Everything remains perfect and unchanging, but thanks to this constant attention.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of unchanging
Adjective
  • Recent strategy resets among global energy majors BP, Shell and ExxonMobil illustrate a greater focus on delivering reliable supply and ensuring that infrastructure can meet fast-growing power demand.
    — H.E. Dr Abdulla Saif Al Jarwan, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Their usefulness will depend on reliable navigation, robust fault responses and effective coordination between onboard systems.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of reliable
Noun
  • On a night this cold, the bursts of flame were almost as welcome as the spectacle, providing a few seconds of actual warmth to fans on the field and in the lower bowl.
    — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Firefighters battled intense winds, with gusts reaching up to 62 mph, as flames spread beyond the installation.
    — Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of flame
Verb
  • Max Lo, executive director of the Taiwan International Strategic Study Society, said the underlying technology is already used by advanced militaries and remote-sensing organizations.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Early vaccination is especially important for individuals at higher risk of serious illness, such as infants and young children, older adults, pregnant people, and anyone with underlying health conditions.
    — Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of underlie
Adjective
  • Republicans coalesced around Hilton after the president endorsed him over his GOP rival, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a staunch Trump supporter who later said the endorsement made Hilton unelectable.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Democrats must decide whether to take the deal in front of them or, possibly with a congressional majority next year, craft a version more to their liking that may be met with staunch GOP opposition and, thus, gridlock purgatory yet again.
    — Jordan Blum, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of staunch

Phrases Containing steady

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steadying
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Cite this Entry

“Steady.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/steady. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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