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as in posture
a general way of holding the body the woman's poise suggested that she was accustomed to having her wishes carried out promptly and without question

Synonyms & Similar Words

poise

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word poise different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of poise are address, savoir faire, and tact. While all these words mean "skill and grace in dealing with others," poise may imply both tact and address but stresses self-possession and ease in meeting difficult situations.

answered the accusations with unruffled poise

When would address be a good substitute for poise?

The words address and poise can be used in similar contexts, but address stresses dexterity and grace in dealing with new and trying situations and may imply success in attaining one's ends.

brought it off with remarkable address

When can savoir faire be used instead of poise?

The words savoir faire and poise are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, savoir faire is likely to stress worldly experience and a sure awareness of what is proper or expedient.

the savoir faire of a seasoned traveler

Where would tact be a reasonable alternative to poise?

The meanings of tact and poise largely overlap; however, tact implies delicate and considerate perception of what is appropriate.

questions showing a lack of tact

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 poise
Noun
Indiana has shown all sorts of poise this postseason, but without Haliburton, the task to overcome Oklahoma City will be that much tougher. Matt Levine, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 June 2025 For instance, within the exhibition, a 1948 video that testifies to the existence of a school for models in Varenna, on Lake Como, where courses on textile merchandising, hairstyling, and poise were taught. Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 17 June 2025
Verb
Thornton's Tommy is set to be CEO of M-Tex Oil while Monty's wife, Cami (Demi Moore) is also poised to be a bigger part of the business, with Tommy appointing her to the board. Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2025 The smoky summers are only poised to worsen in the years ahead as the globe gets hotter, according to Liam Buchart, fire weather specialist at Natural Resources Canada. Bloomberg, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for poise
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poise
Noun
  • With Mars in Libra, there's an undeniable friction as we are called to find equilibrium between attraction and compromise.
    Valerie Mesa, People.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • These minerals are electrolytes, which help your cells maintain equilibrium and communicate with one another.
    Pien Huang, NPR, 4 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • What makes Wiz particularly compelling is its ability to integrate with more than 150 tools across the modern cloud stack, enabling organizations to build a comprehensive and dynamic security posture.
    Chris McHenry, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of Parkinson's disease include tremors, slowed movement, rigid muscles, poor posture and balance and loss of automatic movements.
    Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Inspect mature trees with heavy or unbalanced limbs, which should be pruned or supported by cabling or bracing (a service provided by arborists).
    Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Aug. 2025
  • Bitcoin, one of the year’s best performing assets, has fallen sharply, plunging almost 10% as traders brace for a huge price game-changer.
    Billy Bambrough, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Three drones hovered over the facility during CNN’s visit, according to local officials.
    Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Its shares declined by nearly 3%, hovering around $159 this afternoon.
    Dade Hayes, Deadline, 6 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Despite discussion on the law itself, the school board refrained from taking a stance for or against the proposal, instead deciding to seek guidance from Kentucky's attorney general on how best to enact policies to evaluate offers like the one from LifeWise.
    Keely Doll, The Courier-Journal, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Despite the State Department's anti-cash stance, advocates see some reason for hope.
    Jonathan Lambert, NPR, 6 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • These five startups represent a growing movement to fortify human and ecological systems against climate volatility.
    Marianne Lehnis, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Many brands fortify soy milk with additional vitamins and minerals, including vitamin D and B12, to boost its nutritional value.
    Jillian Kubala, Health, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The city celebrated in style with players and fans floating down the river on barges.
    Vitas Carosella, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
  • Mamdani has been floated as a promising young candidate who could spearhead the Democratic Party eventually, along with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).
    Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 14 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • During your interview process, assess candidates' attitudes toward AI tools and their experience solving problems with artificial intelligence.
    Anatolii Kasianov, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
  • This blasé attitude between the two teams has to change.
    Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Poise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poise. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.

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