# made of sterner stuff

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/made-of-sterner-stuff
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

strong and determined (especially more so than someone else, to whom one is being compared).

## Examples

- She is made of sterner stuff than her brother.
- Everyone expected him to quit after the failure, but he is made of sterner stuff and kept working.
- Though the critics predicted the young leader would collapse under the pressure, she proved she was made of sterner stuff and successfully navigated the crisis.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.