composed 1 of 2

Definition of composednext

composed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of compose
1
2
as in comprised
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
4
as in contained
to gain emotional or mental control of she took a deep breath and composed herself

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of composed are collected, cool, imperturbable, nonchalant, and unruffled. While all these words mean "free from agitation or excitement," composed implies freedom from agitation as a result of self-discipline or a sedate disposition.

the composed pianist gave a flawless concert

Where would collected be a reasonable alternative to composed?

Although the words collected and composed have much in common, collected implies a concentration of mind that eliminates distractions especially in moments of crisis.

the nurse stayed calm and collected

When might cool be a better fit than composed?

While the synonyms cool and composed are close in meaning, cool may imply calmness, deliberateness, or dispassionateness.

kept a cool head

In what contexts can imperturbable take the place of composed?

The words imperturbable and composed are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, imperturbable implies coolness or assurance even under severe provocation.

the speaker remained imperturbable despite the heckling

When can nonchalant be used instead of composed?

The meanings of nonchalant and composed largely overlap; however, nonchalant stresses an easy coolness of manner or casualness that suggests indifference or unconcern.

a nonchalant driver

When is unruffled a more appropriate choice than composed?

In some situations, the words unruffled and composed are roughly equivalent. However, 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 composed
Adjective
But Peggy never forgot her roots; a genre-blending selector with range, she’s known for her energetic but composed sets. Kelly Washington, Refinery29, 22 Dec. 2025 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
Verb
In this new work, Professor Matteo Cargnello’s team, in partnership with KAIST and BASF, has challenged conventional chemistry by synthesizing highly uniform nanocrystals composed of five distinct metals. Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 7 May 2026 It could not be composed of individual particles. Big Think, 7 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for composed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for composed
Adjective
  • This style appeals for its timeless charm and ability to feel collected and lived-in over time.
    Tessa Cooper, The Spruce, 27 Apr. 2026
  • For one, Palestine by Joe Sacco, which found its way onto academic syllabi before gaining steam as a collected volume of graphic reporting.
    Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • As Christopher Morel prepared to step into the batter’s box in the eighth inning for a crucial at-bat on Sunday, Connor Norby and Heriberto Hernandez approached their teammate and gave him some advice.
    Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 12 May 2026
  • The memo was prepared by three top leaders of the Continuum of Care (CoC) board, a coalition that handles how federal money for homelessness prevention programs are doled out to organizations in the Kansas City region.
    Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 12 May 2026
Verb
  • The suited style was comprised of a tuxedo, bowtie and cummerbund.
    Julia Teti, Footwear News, 9 May 2026
  • This open architecture system is comprised of multifunction control consoles and Remote Terminal Units (RTU).
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 9 May 2026
Verb
  • Pollard said Sibley and his friends came after Popov after the confrontation had calmed down.
    John Annese, New York Daily News, 11 May 2026
  • When the water finally calmed, Santa Margarita again held its traditional pool party.
    Dan Albano, Oc Register, 10 May 2026
Verb
  • On April 21, 2025, employees at an apartment complex where Turner worked as a maintenance worker reportedly found a tool bag in a storage room that contained 790 grams of fentanyl and one kilogram of cocaine, court records show.
    Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 14 May 2026
  • This speeds up the thawing process while keeping the fruit contained.
    Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 14 May 2026
Adjective
  • Late contributions from Diggins and Elizabeth Williams provided a calm closing act, with the Sky outscoring the hosts 30-16 in the fourth quarter.
    Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 10 May 2026
  • The moment of calm belies what is turning out to be an unstoppable year for the Colombian, who FIFA announced on Friday as one of the stars headlining the World Cup’s opening ceremony in Mexico City on June 11.
    CNN.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 9 May 2026
Verb
  • Vrabel was not with the team the day Hutchins was drafted.
    Mike Toole, CBS News, 13 May 2026
  • He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 1965, the fifth overall pick out of Cal.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 12 May 2026
Verb
  • Some lawmakers questioned whether the follow-on strike constituted a war crime.
    CBS News, CBS News, 9 May 2026
  • In its defense, the government suggested ChatGPT was responsible for determining what constituted DEI, not the DOGE employees.
    Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 8 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Composed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/composed. Accessed 16 May. 2026.

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