1
as in confident
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in braced
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 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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of poised
Ingmar Rentzhog, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Emily is a poised and successful art gallery director whose life takes a dark turn after a brief, impulsive affair with a magnetic Italian artist, Carlo (Antonio Cupo).
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 10 July 2025
Michael Tedder, The Atlantic, 12 Apr. 2026
The collapse of talks between the US and Iran is poised to push energy prices back up and weigh on stocks globally.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for poised
Adjective
Later that year, political pressure forced the government to pause licensing plans, though companies remain poised to resume if approvals restart.
—Ingmar Rentzhog, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Emily is a poised and successful art gallery director whose life takes a dark turn after a brief, impulsive affair with a magnetic Italian artist, Carlo (Antonio Cupo).
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 10 July 2025
Verb
His eyes filled with wonder and his voice imbued by humility, Victor Glover—poised with his Artemis II crewmates to complete a record-setting voyage around the moon—addressed the camera.
—Michael Tedder, The Atlantic, 12 Apr. 2026
The collapse of talks between the US and Iran is poised to push energy prices back up and weigh on stocks globally.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for poised
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poised
Adjective
-
The data center race looks like a powerful force to drive more investment into the nation’s energy system, and Wall Street types are confident there’s no shortage of capital poised to pour in.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The Sabres are confident after making a remarkable turnaround from last in the East in early December to first place by going 39-9-4.—
John Wawrow,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
This is surprising for something that is supposed to require less hovering, especially if the host is out of hearing range of the device's alerts.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Under all that pressure, where fans have paid premiums on tickets and hotels, and with a White House administration that has made this World Cup a priority issue, is the union braced for the heat which may come its way?—
Adam Crafton,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2026
-
If true, the solution was pretty straightforward — the replacement of the tubes with ones that have a greater wall thickness and/or are braced to prevent the vibrations that created the cracks.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Performing in a cutout in the middle of a huge elevated ramp, Reznor, his Nails bandmate Atticus Ross and Boys Noize hovered atop a dense rack of synths and samplers.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Apr. 2026
-
In the mid-2020s, bond yields hovered between 4% and 5%, but during the COVID-19 recession in 2020, bond yields dropped to near 1%.—
Colin Dodds,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
McIlroy overcame some early inconsistency to put together a composed round, while Burns leaned on excellent ball-striking to match him at the top.—
Marley Malenfant,
Austin American Statesman,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Before Tuesday night, Konate had looked much more composed and commanding.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Opt for bigger hanging bulbs, discrete flickers, or even hanging sheaths.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
3 Apr. 2026
-
To maintain the immersive illusion, Iñárritu eschewed traditional hanging fabric.—
Robert Lang,
Deadline,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
His career essentially bestrides the slow-to-grow Before Times and the apparent soccer paradise of today, which was fortified by remarkable facilities, boosted by an ideal central location and forged by an eagerly welcoming host city that slugged above its weight to make this happen.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Slivers of domestic Wagyu tenderloin sit in a deep salsa negra fortified with soy sauce.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
With one game left on the schedule before the playoffs — a game the Knicks could punt in the name of longevity for a deep postseason run — head coach Mike Brown, and his players, feel confident and comfortable with the direction the ship has sailed in the latter stretch of the season.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
During the opening round of the 2026 Masters tournament, Schauffele’s shot on the par-5 hole sailed just left of the fairway and somehow came to rest inside a woman’s clear plastic shopping bag, which appeared to be sitting on the ground.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Poised.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poised. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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