1
as in confident
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in braced
to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally
the disgraced business executive poised herself for the difficult press conference
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hovered
to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air
the falcon poised in the air for an instant before diving to attack its prey
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of poised
Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, 24 Nov. 2024
Players must remain poised, balanced and consider their moves deeply.
—Eduardo Tansley, The Athletic, 23 Nov. 2024
Ethan Stone, USA Today, 13 Apr. 2025
The defending champion Celtics certainly look poised for a repeat.
—Sam Settleman, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for poised
Adjective
The third movement, played very straight and poised, was persuasively spooky, its ending a haunting braid of hymn, klezmerlike cafe music and funereal march.
—Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, 24 Nov. 2024
Players must remain poised, balanced and consider their moves deeply.
—Eduardo Tansley, The Athletic, 23 Nov. 2024
Verb
With a combination of strategic acquisitions, high-quality programming, and a passion for the industry, TMN is poised to continue its ascent in the competitive world of talk radio syndication.
—Ethan Stone, USA Today, 13 Apr. 2025
The defending champion Celtics certainly look poised for a repeat.
—Sam Settleman, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for poised
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poised
Adjective
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Investors are confident that such bold approaches will pay off, and the companies on the Technology list have collectively raised more than $300 million in recent years.—
Thomas Brewster,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
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Once a sense of consensus – or close enough – has been reached, group members can be confident that those who continue to disagree can be safely ignored or no longer tolerated.—
Jen Cole Wright,
The Conversation,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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At exactly noon on New Year’s Day, about 20 people braced their feet against the silty shore of Lake Natoma, hopping and fidgeting to warm themselves.—
Annika Merrilees,
Sacramento Bee,
1 Jan. 2025
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Trinidad and Tobago declared a state of emergency on Monday as the government braced for reprisal shootings after an attempt on a gang leader’s life, officials said.—
Reuters,
NBC News,
30 Dec. 2024
Verb
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In Gabon, youth unemployment has hovered above 35% in recent years.—
Richard Aidoo,
The Conversation,
10 Apr. 2025
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The price in 2024 hovered around the dollar mark.—
Betty Lin-Fisher,
USA Today,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The sets had their ups and downs: some of the improvisations were gorgeous, but the more composed elements felt messy.—
Amanda Petrusich,
New Yorker,
14 Apr. 2025
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Stability, the ability to remain composed, consistent and dependable, especially during times of change and stress, is the bedrock of trust and the quiet strength that allows others to feel secure and focused.—
Michael McFall,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Of the other methods – including electrocution, lethal gas and hanging – lethal injection had the highest botch rate of more than 7%. ‘An embrace of brutality’ Still, states have remained averse to the firing squad, a position that experts who spoke to CNN believe stems from its overt violence.—
Dakin Andone,
CNN Money,
10 Apr. 2025
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The neutral material keeps it from looking like an eye sore and can be expanded for more hanging space as needed.—
Micaela Arnett,
Rolling Stone,
10 Jan. 2024
Verb
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What hope had been fortified in the first half Wednesday had faded by the second.—
Houston Mitchell,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2025
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It is often fortified with iodine, a trace element necessary for thyroid health.—
Lindsey DeSoto,
Health,
12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Marlowe is intent on criminal justice, and on how easily it is rusted and bent, but social justice, by and large, leaves him unperturbed.—
Anthony Lane,
The New Yorker,
3 Mar. 2025
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My mother-in-law seemed quite unperturbed by the accusatory tone of the question.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The plan, reported in January in The Age newspaper, has been floated by the three most powerful and richest cricket nations - India, Australia and England who would be part of a top tier consisting of seven teams.—
Tristan Lavalette,
Forbes.com,
10 Apr. 2025
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Then Victor Mancini floated a wrist shot past Casey DeSmith on the power play.—
Thomas Drance,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Poised.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poised. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
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