1
as in braced
to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally
the disgraced business executive poised herself for the difficult press conference
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in confident
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of poised
Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 7 July 2025
According to these arbiters, there is a correct way to react when your husband achieves a lifetime dream, and Stoll’s poised and somewhat reserved response was far from it.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 17 Apr. 2025
Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
BusyMing is poised to become the latest BA Capital portfolio company slated for an upcoming Hong Kong IPO.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for poised
Verb
The Knicks retain a loaded roster led by All-NBA guard Jalen Brunson and remain poised to contend in a wide-open Eastern Conference.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 7 July 2025
According to these arbiters, there is a correct way to react when your husband achieves a lifetime dream, and Stoll’s poised and somewhat reserved response was far from it.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
Here are all the minimum wage rates for states poised to make increases.
—Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
BusyMing is poised to become the latest BA Capital portfolio company slated for an upcoming Hong Kong IPO.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for poised
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poised
Verb
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Flight delays were reported across the country for a second straight day Tuesday as the Federal Aviation Administration braced for more airport staffing shortages as the government shutdown continues.—
Matt Lavietes,
NBC news,
8 Oct. 2025
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Wooden vessels for polar exploration typically reinforced the hulls internally with diagonal support beams, which braced the sides of the ship against lateral compression from powerful sea ice, said Tuhkuri, who researches the mechanics of ice.—
Mindy Weisberger,
CNN Money,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Just over 10 laps later, that gap extended to five seconds when Verstappen locked up, and the lead hovered around six seconds with 10 laps to go.—
Madeline Coleman,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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Whether that proves to be a reset for Taylor or a different sort of false start than the ones that have hovered over him remains to be seen.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The Board is confident that the institutional improvements implemented over the past five years, along with those planned for the coming months – incorporating valuable recommendations from Omnia – will mitigate risks in the future.—
Meredith Kile,
PEOPLE,
8 Oct. 2025
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Chanel delivered a confident debut from Matthieu Blazy.—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The wide receiver spot has been fortified more with four-stars and transfers, the result being depth.—
Seth Emerson,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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Fortified Almond Milk Like soy milk, almond milk is commonly fortified with minerals like calcium.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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With Franklin sailed William’s 15-year-old son, Temple, born in London.—
Stacy Schiff,
The Atlantic,
8 Oct. 2025
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Shackleton and the crew of Endurance sailed to one end, while Aurora went to the other.—
Joe Hernandez,
NPR,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Only on particularly bumpy tarmac did the GTS-spec suspension become too jarring with the adaptive dampers stiffened up in sport mode, but switching them to normal offered the best of both worlds—excellent, composed body control and tuning that ironed out imperfections remarkably well.—
Peter Nelson,
Robb Report,
1 Oct. 2025
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The vocabulary being used by Qatar’s prime minister is strong, evocative and damning, a departure from his usual composed response to the incessant twists and turns of trying to end the 23-month war in Gaza.—
Paula Hancocks,
CNN Money,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Of the other methods – including electrocution, lethal gas and hanging – lethal injection had the highest botch rate of more than 7%. ‘An embrace of brutality’ Still, states have remained averse to the firing squad, a position that experts who spoke to CNN believe stems from its overt violence.—
Dakin Andone,
CNN Money,
10 Apr. 2025
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The neutral material keeps it from looking like an eye sore and can be expanded for more hanging space as needed.—
Micaela Arnett,
Rolling Stone,
10 Jan. 2024
Verb
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Numerous ideas have been floated for the corner lot where Hotel Marysville once towered over the downtown of its namesake.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
7 Oct. 2025
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The summer before she was elected, Marin had floated the idea of a thirty-two-hour workweek.—
Jennifer Wilson,
New Yorker,
6 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Poised.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poised. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.
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