collected 1 of 2

adjective

kə-ˈlek-təd How to pronounce collected (audio)
Definition of collectednext
as in composed
free from emotional or mental agitation stayed calm and collected while she was in the MRI unit

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

collected

2 of 2

verb

past tense of collect
1
as in contained
to gain emotional or mental control of applicants should collect their thoughts while waiting to be interviewed

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2
as in accumulated
to gradually form into a layer, pile, or mass dust has been collecting under my bed for years

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3
as in compiled
to bring together from several sources into a single volume or list collected the author's early short stories, which were originally published in several obscure sci-fi magazines

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4
as in assembled
to bring together in one body or place she collects antique silverware

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5
as in gathered
to come together into one body or place a crowd collected at the beach as the sun slowly set over the horizon

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word collected different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of collected are composed, cool, imperturbable, nonchalant, and unruffled. While all these words mean "free from agitation or excitement," collected implies a concentration of mind that eliminates distractions especially in moments of crisis.

the nurse stayed calm and collected

When is it sensible to use composed instead of collected?

The synonyms composed and collected are sometimes interchangeable, but composed implies freedom from agitation as a result of self-discipline or a sedate disposition.

the composed pianist gave a flawless concert

In what contexts can cool take the place of collected?

In some situations, the words cool and collected are roughly equivalent. However, cool may imply calmness, deliberateness, or dispassionateness.

kept a cool head

When could imperturbable be used to replace collected?

The meanings of imperturbable and collected largely overlap; however, imperturbable implies coolness or assurance even under severe provocation.

the speaker remained imperturbable despite the heckling

When is nonchalant a more appropriate choice than collected?

The words nonchalant and collected are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, nonchalant stresses an easy coolness of manner or casualness that suggests indifference or unconcern.

a nonchalant driver

When would unruffled be a good substitute for collected?

The words unruffled and collected can be used in similar contexts, but unruffled suggests apparent serenity and poise in the face of setbacks or in the midst of excitement.

harried but unruffled

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of collected
Adjective
If the justices rule that IEEPA does not permit these tariffs, the government could be potentially required to refund some collected duties and presidents going forward could face clearer statutory limits on unilateral trade actions. —Anna Commander gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025 Their modern, collected interiors are enriched with nods to history, natural materials, and layered textures. —Elizabeth Stamp, Architectural Digest, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
As an undrafted playmaker, Coker collected 32 catches for 478 yards and two touchdowns in 2024. —Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 30 Sep. 2025 Fees were not collected, restrooms remained closed, only a small crew of rangers remained. —Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for collected
Recent Examples of Synonyms for collected
  1. composed
  2. contained
  3. accumulated
  4. compiled
  5. assembled
  6. gathered
  7. calm
  8. amassed
Adjective
  • Only on particularly bumpy tarmac did the GTS-spec suspension become too jarring with the adaptive dampers stiffened up in sport mode, but switching them to normal offered the best of both worlds—excellent, composed body control and tuning that ironed out imperfections remarkably well.
    — Peter Nelson, Robb Report, 1 Oct. 2025
  • The vocabulary being used by Qatar’s prime minister is strong, evocative and damning, a departure from his usual composed response to the incessant twists and turns of trying to end the 23-month war in Gaza.
    — Paula Hancocks, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
Definition of composed
Verb
  • Between 2018 and 2022, more than two-thirds of cases of female breast cancer were diagnosed at a localized stage, meaning the cancer was contained to the breast, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
    — Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Safdie may have found a new way to make a sports drama, one that relies less on the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat and more on all that is contained in the ambivalent middle.
    — Richard Lawson, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
Definition of contained
Verb
  • Smith’s half-sack against the Kansas City Chiefs remains the only such statistic the unit has accumulated so far.
    — Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
  • The Tigers accumulated 10 hits and four walks overall, but struck out 12 times and never scored again.
    — Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 27 Sep. 2025
Definition of accumulated
Verb
  • The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in the Miami Herald newsroom.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 4 Oct. 2025
  • New vaccination maps reveal outbreak risks New county-level data compiled from state health agencies show vaccination rates across the country are dipping at the same time measles cases are surging.
    — Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
Definition of compiled
Verb
  • Reaching the Frontier Over the past year, ByteDance has assembled top AI talent, hiring a former vice president of Google DeepMind to lead AI foundational research and luring other engineers and researchers away from Alibaba and other start-ups, the Financial Times reported in December.
    — Andrew R. Chow, Time, 1 Oct. 2025
  • They were delivered fully assembled and dynamically balanced from the company’s production base on the Yangtze River.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2025
Definition of assembled
Verb
  • Days after a gunman drove a truck into a Grand Blanc Township church and opened fire on worshippers, killing four people and wounding eight, hundreds gathered in Flint for a community safety briefing focused on crisis response and prevention in houses of worship.
    — Nour Rahal, Freep.com, 4 Oct. 2025
  • On Tuesday night, hundreds of people gathered to remember the teenagers, according to CNN affiliate WABC.
    — Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2025
Definition of gathered
Adjective
  • He was being put through training recently to test his ability to stay calm under pressure as Douglas tried to overstimulate his senses.
    — Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 3 Oct. 2025
  • What made the situation a whole lot easier for both of them was the fact that Breezy stayed happy and calm in her car seat through the whole episode.
    — Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Definition of calm
Verb
  • Barreling through the first quarter, Western Hills amassed three more touchdowns from De’Anthony Monroe, Mohammed Soumahoro, and Jeremiah Stribling.
    — Elijah Flowers, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Around that time, a front-page story in The New York Times detailed how Dundon and others had amassed wealth by packaging risky auto loans made to low-income people and selling those loans as securities for hundreds of millions of dollars.
    — Tony Schick, ProPublica, 3 Oct. 2025
Definition of amassed

Browse Nearby Words

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collected
collectedly
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Cite this Entry

“Collected.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/collected. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.

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