poise 1 of 2

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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
What happened in Skokie this spring is a lesson for us all on what really matters and how to carry ourselves with dignity and poise — win or lose. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2025 But Denver stormed back, showing some of their championship poise. Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Apr. 2025
Verb
This is the third year in a row that the agency is poised to run out of disaster-relief funding before the onset of hurricane season, with FEMA’s most recent monthly report projecting that the fund could dry up as soon as July or August. Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2025 With its viral momentum and over a decade of experience under its belt, River Woodcraft is poised to redefine what custom woodworking can achieve, one drawer, one design, and one dead zone at a time. William Jones, USA Today, 14 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for poise
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poise
Noun
  • The most successful travelers on this journey into uncharted hybrid territory will be those who can curate the magic of natural and artificial intelligences intentionally, calibrating the hybrid equilibrium that is the sweet spot where their own unique potential is revealed.
    Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 5 May 2025
  • Moral degeneration accompanies the physical; lying is one of the outstanding characteristics, probably due to lack of moral equilibrium.
    Wade Davis, Rolling Stone, 6 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • This proactive posture helps minimize impact and protect business continuity.
    Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
  • With a proud posture and hands on her hips, the structure is a headturner.
    Taryn Finley, Refinery29, 14 May 2025
Verb
  • Other venues, most notably the 90,000-capacity Rose Bowl, are braced for lots of empty seats.
    Adam Crafton, New York Times, 17 May 2025
  • The National Weather Service said residents in Kentucky, southern Indiana, southern Illinois and parts of Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas and Ohio should brace for intense storms that could include baseball-sized hail.
    Michael Phillis, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2025
Verb
  • Then again, for those who have bought one of the most expensive tickets in Knicks history—with the get-in price hovering above $650 as of Friday morning—what’s a few more dollars for the chance to see New York potentially reach the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 1999?
    Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 16 May 2025
  • The Vietnam War and its effects hover over the group.
    Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 15 May 2025
Noun
  • The footage had a date banner reading March 27, but its release Sunday perhaps signals Moscow’s unchanged stance ahead of any future talks.
    Caitlin Danaher, CNN Money, 18 May 2025
  • There’s fashion, there’s political stances, there’s team chemistry, there’s parenting.
    Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 18 May 2025
Verb
  • It is then fermented into a sweet wine, usually fortified.
    Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
  • Its front office excels at fortifying the roster through the draft.
    Dan Pompei, New York Times, 12 May 2025
Verb
  • Trump instead floated the idea of launching lower-level talks between Ukraine and Russia at the Vatican, which are scheduled for mid-June, and backed away from the possibility of imposing new sanctions on Moscow.
    Katya Soldak, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
  • Mass, he was found dead in a channel in the harbor, face down, his hat floating nearby.
    Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2025
Noun
  • However, the need to keep secrets that confer a competitive advantage could affect decisions and attitudes about exactly how transparent AI should be.
    Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
  • Institutional history reflects Britain’s complex international attitudes.
    Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Poise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poise. Accessed 27 May. 2025.

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