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steel wool
noun
: an abrasive material composed of long fine steel shavings and used especially for scouring and burnishing
Examples of steel wool in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For any tough-on pieces of food or yucky residue, the brand recommends using steel wool to gently scour inside.
—Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 15 Mar. 2024
That same Scotchbrite pad or even a pad of fine steel wool, makes quick work of a little rust or some pine sap left over from last year.
—Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 1 Mar. 2024
His Jewish Cuban father owned a steel wool factory; his mother, a Jewish Romanian, narrowly survived the Holocaust when her family caught one of the last ships to Cuba.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2024
Lodge, for instance, advises removing rust with steel wool or Lodge Rust Eraser, wiping the pan with a towel and placing it on heat to completely dry, then applying a thin layer of neutral oil and baking at 450 degrees for an hour.
—Annie Midori Atherton, Washington Post, 10 Jan. 2024
In fact, the steel wool didn't even remove any of the silky sheen on the fabric.
—Michelle Rostamian, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Jan. 2024
Just make sure to rinse them well after polishing and never store steel wool in your tackle boxes for quick shines on the water.
—Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 7 Dec. 2023
Gehry’s set consists of two static diaphanous sculptures that can be anything from ethereally transparent to steely imposing, along with three movable steel wool clouds, all capable of absorbing myriad shades and colors, creating atmosphere, thanks to James F. Ingalls’ brilliant lighting design.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2023
Gently scrub the rust away with a nylon brush, fine steel wool scrubbing pad, or metal scouring pad.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 20 Nov. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'steel wool.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1896, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near steel wool
Cite this Entry
“Steel wool.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/steel%20wool. Accessed 12 Jun. 2024.
Kids Definition
steel wool
noun
: a rough material composed of long fine steel shavings and used especially for cleaning and polishing
More from Merriam-Webster on steel wool
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about steel wool
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