1
as in confident
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Dissimilar Words
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
Ingmar Rentzhog, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Emily is a poised and successful art gallery director whose life takes a dark turn after a brief, impulsive affair with a magnetic Italian artist, Carlo (Antonio Cupo).
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 10 July 2025
Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 23 Mar. 2026
The sell-off has created a great buying opportunity for a century-old airline undergoing a successful long-term turnaround that's poised to surpass its earnings achieved before the pandemic decimated the industry.
—Timothy Seymour, CNBC, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for poised
Adjective
Later that year, political pressure forced the government to pause licensing plans, though companies remain poised to resume if approvals restart.
—Ingmar Rentzhog, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Emily is a poised and successful art gallery director whose life takes a dark turn after a brief, impulsive affair with a magnetic Italian artist, Carlo (Antonio Cupo).
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 10 July 2025
Verb
But at the baseline, the Yankees appear poised to be a contender once again.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 23 Mar. 2026
The sell-off has created a great buying opportunity for a century-old airline undergoing a successful long-term turnaround that's poised to surpass its earnings achieved before the pandemic decimated the industry.
—Timothy Seymour, CNBC, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for poised
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poised
Adjective
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The suburbs have also grown more diverse and educated over the past few decades, demographic shifts that may make Democrats more confident.—
Steve Peoples,
Fortune,
26 Mar. 2026
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Chevrolet seems confident that both versions of the Grand Sport will become the lineup’s best-selling models.—
Lawrence Ulrich,
Robb Report,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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This is surprising for something that is supposed to require less hovering, especially if the host is out of hearing range of the device's alerts.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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September Dawn Bottoms for NBC News Carter had braced for a backlash.—
Bracey Harris,
NBC news,
25 Mar. 2026
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Though Ohio braced for severe weather, with some areas seeing hail come down, on March 22, some Ohio's cities reached record high temperatures during the day.—
Mariyam Muhammad,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Prices for brent crude, the global oil benchmark, hovered around $110 a barrel Friday morning, while bond yields shot up.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
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The school district’s enrollment has hovered around 14,650 students for the past decade, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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What caught my attention, however, beyond the lip-syncing and costume changes, was the family opposite me: the mother neat and composed, father in golf-course polo and chinos, two thirty-something sons cheering alongside a girlfriend who would not look out of place on a pageant stage.—
Sophie Morgan,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Mar. 2026
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Before Tuesday night, Konate had looked much more composed and commanding.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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To maintain the immersive illusion, Iñárritu eschewed traditional hanging fabric.—
Robert Lang,
Deadline,
20 Feb. 2026
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Leaving either of those bare was a topic of discussion, Carney says; a trade-off between the goal of paying homage to Steinway’s legacy and getting enough hanging space.—
Adriane Quinlan,
Curbed,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Huel sells a range of protein shakes and drinks fortified with nutrients.—
Elsa Ohlen,
CNBC,
23 Mar. 2026
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The elevator to it is fortified for heavy loads.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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For cruisers who have sailed on Icon-class ships previously, returning features like the Pearl kinetic art sculpture, the open-air Central Park, the AquaTheater and Absolute Zero will all feel familiar.—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 Mar. 2026
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The vessels — the CSCL Indian Ocean and CSCL Arctic Ocean — sailed out of the Gulf in close formation and are now moving at elevated speed toward the Gulf of Oman, MarineTraffic data indicates.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Poised.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poised. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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