Synonyms of poised

poised 1 of 2

adjective

1

as in confident

Related Words

• confident
• composed
• unperturbed
• collected
• unshaken
• serene
• secure
• optimistic
• self-assured
• coolheaded
• tranquil
• assured
• hopeful
• recollected
• self-confident
• self-possessed
• rosy
• upbeat
• proud
• cool
• important
• complacent
• sanguine
• conceited
• unflappable
• imperturbable
• unshakable
• self-affected
• smug
• vain
• pompous
• self-centered
• prideful
• nerveless
• self-pleased
• self-contented
• vainglorious
• self-asserting
• egotistic
• self-satisfied
• self-complacent
• disciplined
• egoistic
• self-applauding
• self-poised
• self-important
• overweening
• self-sufficient
• self-conceited
• unself-conscious
• self-reliant
• stuck-up
• self-composed
• self-contained
• self-collected
• self-promoting
• self-controlled

Dissimilar Words

• timid
• diffident
• meek
• insecure
• modest
• humble
• nervous
• unassertive
• unassuming
• quiet
• jittery
• unpretentious
• self-distrustful
• jumpy
• shy
• reserved
• self-doubting
• bashful
• demure
• mousy
• overmodest
• self-reproachful
• self-reproving
• self-critical

2

as in hovering

Related Words

• hovering
• hanging
• sailing
• awash
• gliding
• drifting
• wafting
• afloat
• buoyant
• floating
• unsinkable
• free-floating
• floaty

Dissimilar Words

• sunk
• sinking
• high and dry
• aground

poised

2 of 2

verb

past tense of poise

1

as in braced

to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally

the disgraced business executive poised herself for the difficult press conference

Synonyms & Similar Words

• braced
• fortified
• readied
• strengthened
• steeled
• nerved
• armed
• forearmed
• bolstered
• reinforced
• psyched (up)
• inspired
• enforced
• sustained
• emboldened
• encouraged
• inured
• hardened
• comforted
• buttressed
• roused
• toughened
• heartened
• rallied
• seasoned
• propped (up)
• buoyed (up)
• stirred
• supported
• boosted
• cheered (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• shook
• discouraged
• daunted
• unnerved
• disheartened
• demoralized
• softened
• undermined
• weakened
• undercut
• tired
• dispirited
• sapped
• debilitated
• enfeebled
• psyched (out)
• prostrated
• enervated

2

as in hovered

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

• hovered
• sailed
• floated
• glided
• drifted
• swam
• wafted
• rode
• hung
• bobbed
• dangled
• suspended
• buoyed
• ballooned
• rafted

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• settled
• sank
• plunged
• lunged
• dived
• immersed
• dipped
• submerged
• submersed

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of poised

Adjective

So my oldest, Richard, is super poised and has always sort of been the rock for our family. — Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 26 Mar. 2026

Jones has played so well and has looked so poised, and the team has done such a solid job with him at the controls that there has been talk lately about a possible quarterback controversy brewing in the Bay Area. — Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025

Verb

The Florida Department of Education is poised to direct all school districts to incorporate rules regarding artificial intelligence in their internet safety guidelines. — Miami Herald, 22 July 2026

The move comes amid some speculation that competition with Chinese memory chipmakers could be poised to intensify. — Christina Cheddar Berk,davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 15 July 2026