composure

noun

com·​po·​sure kəm-ˈpō-zhər 

: a calmness or repose especially of mind, bearing, or appearance : self-possession

The witness started to break down, then paused and regained her composure.

Synonyms

• calmness
• serenity
• coolness
• tranquillity
• equilibrium
• assurance
• equanimity

Choose the Right Synonym for composure

equanimity, composure, sangfroid mean evenness of mind under stress.

equanimity suggests a habit of mind that is only rarely disturbed under great strain.

accepted her troubles with equanimity

composure implies the controlling of emotional or mental agitation by an effort of will or as a matter of habit.

maintaining his composure even under hostile questioning

sangfroid implies great coolness and steadiness under strain.

handled the situation with professional sangfroid

Examples of composure in a Sentence

After the initial shock she regained her composure.

kept his composure in spite of the repeated provocations

Recent Examples on the Web

She was eventually taken off her flight and reportedly booked a new ticket after regaining her composure, per the outlet. —Colson Thayer, People.com, 11 July 2025

Stevens’s reflections on his years of service reveal what’s pulsing beneath his composure: the choice to look away from troubling secrets and repress personal desires. —Mia Barzilay Freund, Vogue, 7 July 2025

In a race that featured all the drama, Hulkenberg kept his composure and took home his first podium of a long career. —Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 July 2025

Resilience: Employees need the ability to maintain composure under pressure and direct their energy toward constructive solutions, rather than becoming paralyzed by uncertainty. —Elaine Pulakos, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

see compose

First Known Use

1647, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing composure

• keep one's cool/composure
• lose one's cool/composure
• maintain one's cool/composure

Rhymes for composure

• cynosure
• disclosure
• enclosure
• exposure
• foreclosure
• inclosure
• closure
• crozier
• hosier
• mosher
• nondisclosure
• postexposure

Kids Definition

composure

noun

com·​po·​sure kəm-ˈpō-zhər 

: calmness especially of mind, manner, or appearance

she kept her composure