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
Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 10 July 2025
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
Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 23 Jan. 2026
League sources indicated that the Giants are poised to engage on center fielder Harrison Bader, a strong defender who hit 17 home runs with a 111 OPS+ last season and served as a difference maker after the Philadelphia Phillies acquired him from the Minnesota Twins in July.
—Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for poised
Adjective
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
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
Verb
Seroka stressed that the port will remain poised an ready to adapt to new challenges in 2026.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 23 Jan. 2026
League sources indicated that the Giants are poised to engage on center fielder Harrison Bader, a strong defender who hit 17 home runs with a 111 OPS+ last season and served as a difference maker after the Philadelphia Phillies acquired him from the Minnesota Twins in July.
—Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for poised
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poised
Adjective
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Katharine Blodgett’s delivery is silken, confident.—
Natalia Sánchez Loayza,
Scientific American,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The brand works with skin experts to strengthen credibility and help customers feel confident using the device safely and consistently as part of their routine.—
William Jones
January 29,
Miami Herald,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
An officer restricted his movements and braced him against a railing.—
Sofia Saric,
Miami Herald,
29 Jan. 2026
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As a winter storm bore down on Austin late last week, residents braced for an onslaught of ice — and, many feared, ICE enforcement in the city.—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez,
Austin American Statesman,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Crude oil prices have hovered around $60 a barrel in recent days.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
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At its peak in 2000, GE’s market cap hovered around $600 billion, more than $1 trillion in today’s dollars.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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When the center returned to Minnesota, Finch saw a player who was more composed and sure of how to use his boundless energy within the context of the game.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
15 Jan. 2026
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The usually very composed DiCaprio is going viral for getting playful during one of the show's commercial breaks, as he was captured laughing, smiling, and doing a very hammy impression of a person who was off camera.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Max Houser 6-Tier Hanging Closet Shelf Instantly create more hanging space with this fabric shelving unit that makes use of otherwise dead vertical space.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Dec. 2025
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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
Verb
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Some cereals are fortified with additional vitamins and minerals.—
Nancy LeBrun,
Verywell Health,
31 Jan. 2026
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That’s the American analogy, where the traditional governing elite of one of the great parties of much of the country committed itself to something not just in the defense of slavery, but to slavery-plus, fortified and amplified by treason.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Yesterday’s trial marked the sixth time the submarine sailed out for acceptance testing.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Jan. 2026
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Swain’s pass sailed long, but Weaver somehow corralled it and called a timeout before stepping out of bounds.—
Cedric Golden,
Austin American Statesman,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Marching alongside a column of protesters through the city of Borujerd in western Iran, a middle-aged woman appeared unperturbed by the blood streaming down her chin.—
Behnam Ben Taleblu,
The Atlantic,
9 Jan. 2026
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Unusual behavior at the comet's closest approach Regardless, the comet would have continued along its orbit unperturbed by what was happening on Earth.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
16 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Poised.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poised. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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