1
as in confident
Related Words
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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
Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2026
Miami also has several up-and-coming defensive ends who are poised to take on bigger roles.
—Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 27 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
To temper those cuts in California, other groups proposed a new tax on billionaires that appears poised to qualify for the November ballot.
—Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2026
Miami also has several up-and-coming defensive ends who are poised to take on bigger roles.
—Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for poised
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poised
Adjective
-
Bader felt confident in creating a collection that would cater to Show Me Your Mumu's shoppers as well as her followers.—
Hedy Phillips,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Just being more confident in my choice of what is funny and what’s not.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 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
-
On April 14th, as Kyiv braced for a round of Russian strikes, the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, was seven hundred and fifty miles away, in Berlin, forging a defense agreement with Germany, part of a tour of European allies to raise support for military aid.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The Celtics, who have run into Philadelphia in the playoffs several times in recent years, braced for a fiery atmosphere.—
Jay King,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
If everyone succeeded, the box got shorter for the next round, while the other participants hovered nearby to catch anyone who wobbled.—
Lily Hautau,
CNN Money,
3 May 2026
-
On Friday, West Texas Intermediate hovered around $102 and Brent crude topped $108, though prices for physical delivery are higher.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
3 May 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
-
Oat milk can also be fortified with vitamins and minerals like B12, vitamin D, and potassium to boost its nutritional value.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
29 Apr. 2026
-
That said, some white breads are also fortified with other nutrients, such as B vitamins, which can provide nutritional value beyond the fiber found in whole grains.—
Angelica Bottaro,
Verywell Health,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
While other artists of ambition sailed for Europe, Cole’s protégé was perfectly satisfied sketching along the Hudson.—
Sebastian Smee,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
That, combined with his understandable nervousness, caused him to short-arm his first fastball, which sailed at Cey’s head, sending him sprawling into the dirt.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Poised.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poised. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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