1
as in to prepare
to put (something) into proper and usually carefully worked out written form
composed a statement on this hot-button issue that managed to satisfy absolutely no one
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to comprise
to be all the substance of
the earth's crust is composed of mostly silicon with several other elements in smaller amounts
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to calm
to free from distress or disturbance
the first order of business was to compose the injured pedestrian
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 compose
The center does have a storytelling council composed of historians and scholars to help advise on the narrative, but the pen writing Obama’s history is held, in essence, by Obama’s foundation, and thus, by Obama himself.
—
Kelsey Ables, The Atlantic, 9 June 2026
Musicians still compose, art walks draw crowds, and craft brewers repeatedly up their game.
—The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 June 2026
Each night, the chef composes a refined tasting menu, featuring two appetizers, a choice of two entrées, and a dessert.
—Christina Perrier, InStyle, 8 June 2026
Nantz somberly delivered the emotional news while taking several breaks to compose himself.
—Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for compose
Kelsey Ables, The Atlantic, 9 June 2026
Musicians still compose, art walks draw crowds, and craft brewers repeatedly up their game.
—The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 June 2026
Each night, the chef composes a refined tasting menu, featuring two appetizers, a choice of two entrées, and a dessert.
—Christina Perrier, InStyle, 8 June 2026
Nantz somberly delivered the emotional news while taking several breaks to compose himself.
—Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for compose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compose
Verb
-
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Islamabad was preparing for an electronic signing, to be followed by technical-level talks in the coming week.—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
15 June 2026
-
Because Simon’s already got this prepared.—
Carita Rizzo,
Deadline,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
Still, there is a major gap in revenue among the 136 teams that comprise the Football Bowl Subdivision.—
Tom Layberger,
Forbes.com,
25 Aug. 2025
-
Nvidia recently pushed back on an analyst report from Asia that said Rubin, the chip technology expected to comprise the bulk of GPU sales in 2027, was seeing early production problems.—
Kif Leswing,
CNBC,
25 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Having this special calming box can reduce feelings of stress in a moment that might otherwise become volatile, like separating from a parent.—
Taylor Grothe,
Parents,
10 Dec. 2025
-
Even a simple label activates part of the brain that helps regulate stress, which in turn calms the threat response.—
Jennifer Moss,
CNBC,
10 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The Chiefs Hall of Honor on the second-level concourse contains the organization’s four Super Bowl trophies, memorabilia, exhibits and documents, and there is no admission to walk through history.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
17 June 2026
-
The farm system does not contain an endless supply of prospects.—
Patrick Mooney,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
After her grandmother died, the family found letters Smith had written home during the war.—
Nick Lunemann,
CBS News,
16 June 2026
-
Newsom doesn’t collect any real revenue from his podcast, but did report collecting more than $100,000 in publication fee and royalties last year for books he’s written.—
Ben Paviour,
Sacbee.com,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
What constitutes a good concealer?—
Sophie Wirt,
InStyle,
14 June 2026
-
Together, the cord and placenta constitute one of the most specialized temporary organs in vertebrate biology, functional for precisely the duration required and dismantled at birth.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Ellison’s words may help soothe tensions at the program, which has been roiled in recent days and still faces a difficult summer without more full-time correspondents.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
9 June 2026
-
But the First Lady’s memoir is the wrong place for such self-soothing rhetoric.—
Amy Davidson Sorkin,
New Yorker,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
To that end, Seattle drafted Notre Dame’s Jadarian Price in the first round.—
Jeff Howe,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
-
Once all negotiation clusters are completed, the European Commission drafts an accession treaty outlining the terms of membership.—
Tiago Ventura,
Time,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Compose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compose. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
