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
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Recent Examples of poise
Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 14 Apr. 2026
Alex Flanagan, who has covered some of sports’ best competitors, praised her son’s poise.
—Tim Meehan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2026
Peter Elkind, ProPublica, 9 Apr. 2026
By 2022, the Mavericks had drafted Luka Dončić, a generational talent who looked poised to deliver a second title.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for poise
Noun
July 23 – August 22 Power meets poise in today’s spotlight moments.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 14 Apr. 2026
Alex Flanagan, who has covered some of sports’ best competitors, praised her son’s poise.
—Tim Meehan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2026
Verb
Prospect’s creditors are poised to launch a similar effort.
—Peter Elkind, ProPublica, 9 Apr. 2026
By 2022, the Mavericks had drafted Luka Dončić, a generational talent who looked poised to deliver a second title.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for poise
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poise
Noun
-
Taking our Solar System as a proxy for what’s out there in the galaxy and the rest of the Universe, there are likely tens of trillions of bodies in hydrostatic equilibrium, at least, across the entirety of the Milky Way.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
14 Apr. 2026
-
The immediate aftermath involved two months of recovery, which entailed physical and occupational therapy that helped Lee find equilibrium and regain movement, the magazine reported.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The famed Rendezvous Ballroom dance floor was so packed, couples would have to do their moves in a close embrace, posture upright while doing short half steps, swiftly shuffling their feet as the partners stepped out and in, over and over, in a rhythmic swing.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Ergonomic keyboards are meant to reduce strain on your body by promoting a neutral, more natural posture for hands, wrists, and shoulders.—
Zackery Cuevas,
PC Magazine,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Frustration over rising power bills is a common complaint in California, and the state is bracing for increases in power consumption as the use of artificial intelligence grows.—
James Taylor,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Tornadoes, hail slam the Heartland More than 50 million people across the Midwest and Plains are bracing for severe weather on Tuesday, a day after baseball-sized hail and multiple tornadoes were reported in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Kansas.—
Kenton Gewecke,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Search-and-rescue corpsmen were overhead, with a hovering helicopter squadron.—
Erika I. Ritchie,
Oc Register,
16 Apr. 2026
-
With the average price for a vehicle hovering around $50,000, a compact sedan that starts at about $22,000 is an attractive entry point for buyers, industry experts said.—
Robert Ferris,
CNBC,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Changing world The change in Saudi Arabia’s stance comes as the PIF announced a new five-year strategy on Wednesday to make up a budget deficit of $73 billion.—
Will Barker,
TheWeek,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Kganyago’s stance places South Africa outside the dominant global monetary mood.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
There is more research supporting the use of collagen supplements to improve joint pain and movement, and to fortify cartilage and bones.—
Amber J. Tresca,
Verywell Health,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Eli Lilly is tapping into its obesity windfall again to fortify its pipeline.—
Kevin Stankiewicz,Morgan Chittum,Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The agency has floated the idea of transitioning special-education services to Health and Human Services—the department, McMahon pointed out, that oversaw special education before Ed existed.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Sargassum is floating macroalgae that has inundated beaches in Florida and the Caribbean since 2011, damaging tourism, harming the health of humans and marine life and costing local governments millions of dollars a year to clean up.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
18 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There is no question about his attitude or application; this is not a case of a player who has shirked responsibility or failed to work hard enough in training or in matches.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Princess Anne is often described as the Queen’s most like-minded child, known for her no-nonsense attitude, dry humor and unwavering commitment to her responsibilities.—
Kate Hogan,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Poise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poise. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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