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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of poised
Maureen Lee Lenker,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Sep. 2025
Wearing a sleeveless, moisture-wicking workout shirt suctioned to his imposing frame, Bowyer comes across as poised, calm — almost eerily so.
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David Amsden,
Rolling Stone,
29 Aug. 2025
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
21 June 2026
She’s poised to make a grand return, however, with roles in the horror comedy Ponderosa (2026) and Joy Will Prevail.
—
Louis Peitzman,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for poised
Adjective
Here was the postwar American housewife—neatly dressed, pretty, poised, active—stepping unwittingly into a scene of utter depravity and sadism that reflected back at this wholesome young mother the darkest recesses of the human mind.
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Maureen Lee Lenker,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Sep. 2025
Wearing a sleeveless, moisture-wicking workout shirt suctioned to his imposing frame, Bowyer comes across as poised, calm — almost eerily so.
—
David Amsden,
Rolling Stone,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
This summer is poised to be the biggest post-COVID season, thanks to sleeper hits as well as new installments in reliable franchises.
—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
21 June 2026
She’s poised to make a grand return, however, with roles in the horror comedy Ponderosa (2026) and Joy Will Prevail.
—
Louis Peitzman,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for poised
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poised
Adjective
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Ship traffic first started to pick up over the weekend as shipping companies became more confident that talks between the US and Iran were progressing.
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Merlin, a 2-year-old duck, has taken the internet by storm, captivating fans with his tiny form-fitting Team Mexico jersey and confident waddle around his home of Mexico City.
Adjective
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He-Man was now a jolly, quip-ready hero, whose best friends were scaredy-cat Cringer (a green-and-yellow tiger who transformed into Battle Cat), and an annoying, hovering magician called Orko.
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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.
Verb
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Europe’s heat endurance continues as multiple countries are braced for triple digit temperatures Thursday.
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Now, as traders fear the bitcoin house of cards could be collapsing, the market is braced for the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure of inflation to cement an interest rate hike later this year.
Verb
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By contrast, before the onset of the conflict, the prices more consistently hovered around $67 to $71 per barrel.
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The threat of Powell hitting that threshold — 3,490 feet in elevation — has hovered above federal water managers for months as the reservoir has continued to drop to record-low levels.
Adjective
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After opening the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a dominant 4-1 win over Paraguay in Los Angeles, the United States followed it with a composed 2-0 victory over Australia in Seattle.
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While uniform cubes are suited for an elegant, composed presentation, torn croutons are a humble upgrade for nearly everything else where a little contrast is welcome.
Adjective
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Opt for bigger hanging bulbs, discrete flickers, or even hanging sheaths.
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To maintain the immersive illusion, Iñárritu eschewed traditional hanging fabric.
Verb
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All of this while new AHL Hartford coach Jay Leach and a changing development staff increasingly shape a prospect pool that’s fortified by the team’s most consequential draft class in at least six years.
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MonthiraYodtiwong/Getty Images Few sources of income are as legally fortified as a federal disability check.
Verb
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Banijay Iberia will bring its immersive experience ‘Luminiscence’ to Seville’s stunning Parish of San Jacinto, in its Triana district, home to famed flamenco dancers, bullfights and sailors who sailed to Spain’s New World in the Americas.
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His throw sailed over second base and all the way to the backstop, allowing Steer to move to third.
Cite this Entry
“Poised.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poised. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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