1
as in equilibrium
a condition in which opposing forces are equal to one another
there must be a poise between the rights of the individual and the rights of society
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
1
as in to brace
to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally
the disgraced business executive poised herself for the difficult press conference
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to hover
to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air
the falcon poised in the air for an instant before diving to attack its prey
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 poise
Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 3 Apr. 2025
From being able to host an impeccable event at a moment’s notice to showing graciousness in every circumstance to having an impressively clean and organized home, manners and poise come to mind.
—Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 1 Apr. 2025
Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 1 May 2025
In 2022, Amazon said it was poised to pass UPS and FedEx to become the largest U.S. package delivery service.
—Annie Palmer, CNBC, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for poise
Noun
Surrounded by future Hall of Famers at his position, the 25-year-old upstart registered his first career triple-double in his second career start, continuing to exhibit poise beyond his two years in the league.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 3 Apr. 2025
From being able to host an impeccable event at a moment’s notice to showing graciousness in every circumstance to having an impressively clean and organized home, manners and poise come to mind.
—Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 1 Apr. 2025
Verb
In March, Utah became the first state to ban fluoride in public drinking water, and Florida is poised to follow as the second state.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 1 May 2025
In 2022, Amazon said it was poised to pass UPS and FedEx to become the largest U.S. package delivery service.
—Annie Palmer, CNBC, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for poise
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poise
Noun
-
Our task today is to preserve whatever equilibrium is left and restore what has been destroyed.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
21 Apr. 2025
-
To achieve a happy equilibrium, collaboration is required — as Newcastle fans will be painstakingly reminded over the coming months.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Middle-range investors (ages 36 to 50 or so) People in this group also can afford to maintain a relatively aggressive investment posture focused largely around stocks, stock funds and the like.—
Russ Wiles,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2025
-
By taking a less confrontational and militarist posture, however, China will give the West greater dilemmas to solve.—
RANA MITTER,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Chipotle, like other restaurants and fast-food chains that rely on supplies from Mexico, also forecast tepid annual comparable sales growth, bracing for a hit from inflation.—
Ananya Mariam Rajesh,
USA Today,
22 Apr. 2025
-
Now city leaders are bracing for a nearly $1-billion budget deficit.—
Ryan Fonseca,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
From a terminal far out of harm’s way, drone pilots could hover in the sky for hours, soaking up surveillance information, building a case for precisely whom to bomb and when to do it.—
Colin Jones,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Uncertainty still hovers over Bryce Huff, a splash signing in 2024.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The comments follow President Donald Trump hinting at a softer stance on China tariffs.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Speaking on Friday during a trip to India, Vice President Vance made the administration’s stance clear.—
Alexis Simendinger,
The Hill,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Reinvent continuously: Change is the one constant, and knowing that disruption remains at an all-time high, leaders must be able to navigate these changes and fortify their enterprise resilience on an ongoing basis—for both the short- and long-term.—
Muqsit Ashraf,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
-
Georgia’s roster is now fortified for another national championship run, with things seeming to depend on two spots: starting quarterback Gunner Stockton and a young offensive line.—
Seth Emerson,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Why could this be a record sargassum year for Florida? LaPointe said drought in South America the past couple of years led to less water flowing from the Amazon River into the Atlantic, which meant fewer nutrients to feed the fields of floating sargassum.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
1 May 2025
-
Her grayscale bodies float somewhere between specificity and universality.—
Najha Zigbi-Johnson,
Essence,
30 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The survey asked participants about their attitudes and behaviors toward cybersecurity at home and in the workplace.—
Kim Key,
PC Magazine,
2 May 2025
-
Her poems of that era — sonnets, epigrams, eminently quotable snippets of rhymed gossip — pulse with the dynamism and attitude of the modern city.—
A.O. Scott,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Poise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poise. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share