as in calm
free from emotional or mental agitation
was praised for having a coolheaded response to the crisis
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Recent Examples of coolheaded
Her coolheaded approach — distilling arguments, weighing the evidence, and then ruling decisively — was evident in discussions over the Cohen case and is typical for Strauss, according to lawyers who have worked with her for decades.
—
Benjamin Weiser, BostonGlobe.com, 21 June 2020
And Pelosi, as the speaker of the House Representatives, appeared characteristically coolheaded throughout the voting process.
—Barry Samaha, Harper's BAZAAR, 19 Dec. 2019
Colleagues say that on the campaign and in the White House, Ms. Grisham has been a coolheaded, encouraging presence.
—Elizabeth Williamson, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2019
At the end of each challenge, the regular judge (Katherine Gray, a coolheaded glass artist and a professor) and a guest judge evaluate the contestants’ work.
—Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 31 July 2019
That’s why a buyer should be represented by a buyer’s agent who provides coolheaded, arm’s length expertise.
—Pat Kapowich, The Mercury News, 11 July 2019
Beijing should be very coolheaded because does a new Cold War serve China’s interests?
—Jeremy Page, WSJ, 13 Oct. 2018
Benjamin Weiser, BostonGlobe.com, 21 June 2020
And Pelosi, as the speaker of the House Representatives, appeared characteristically coolheaded throughout the voting process.
—Barry Samaha, Harper's BAZAAR, 19 Dec. 2019
Colleagues say that on the campaign and in the White House, Ms. Grisham has been a coolheaded, encouraging presence.
—Elizabeth Williamson, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2019
At the end of each challenge, the regular judge (Katherine Gray, a coolheaded glass artist and a professor) and a guest judge evaluate the contestants’ work.
—Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 31 July 2019
That’s why a buyer should be represented by a buyer’s agent who provides coolheaded, arm’s length expertise.
—Pat Kapowich, The Mercury News, 11 July 2019
Beijing should be very coolheaded because does a new Cold War serve China’s interests?
—Jeremy Page, WSJ, 13 Oct. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coolheaded
Adjective
-
The feature is set in British Columbia, largely in the span of a summer during the nineteen-nineties, in a calm residential suburb on the ruggedly alluring Vancouver Island.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
-
This is altered by telehealth, which allows patients to start this delicate procedure in a calm, secure and private setting.—
Lucy Jones
April 11,
Miami Herald,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
While home to less than 2,000 students, the campus, called the Domain, spans 13,000 acres, much of it still wild and undeveloped, and the areas where college life unfolds are dotted with Gothic Revival architecture; take it all in with a serene stroll.—
Jennifer Stewart Kornegay,
Southern Living,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Set upon a four-acre estate with a large pool and serene pond, the property takes inspiration form an English country house.—
Bailey Berg,
Architectural Digest,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Freedom of peaceful navigation is a basic principle of international maritime trade, but Iran has asserted control of the strait.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL!—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
Before Tuesday night, Konate had looked much more composed and commanding.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Start with a high-quality anchor piece, then layer in vintage accents that make the patio feel collected and personal.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The robot will vacuum oil from the water’s surface, return to its base station to discharge the collected oil, and then redeploy to the spill site.—
Ben Coxworth
March 10,
New Atlas,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Turning onto shady Little Road felt instantly tranquil.—
Christopher Spata,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2026
-
That earlier film, a languid, unsettling thriller, focused on its protagonist’s emotional breakdown during a supposedly tranquil Mediterranean vacation.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In the Village Voice, where the Consumer Guide became one of the fabled alt-weekly’s go-to features from the ’70s through the ’90s, Christgau wrote like a possessed fan who breathed insight, making every capsule sound like a psychedelic sonnet.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
29 Mar. 2026
-
David Dastmalchian stars as Jack Delroy, an opportunistic host who invites a possessed girl and a child psychologist as his guests for the night in a desperate bid for ratings.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Coolheaded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coolheaded. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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