Synonyms of poised

poised 1 of 2

adjective

1

as in confident

Related Words

• confident
• composed
• unperturbed
• collected
• unshaken
• serene
• secure
• optimistic
• self-assured
• coolheaded
• tranquil
• assured
• hopeful
• recollected
• self-confident
• self-possessed
• rosy
• upbeat
• proud
• cool
• important
• complacent
• sanguine
• conceited
• unflappable
• imperturbable
• unshakable
• self-affected
• smug
• vain
• pompous
• self-centered
• prideful
• nerveless
• self-pleased
• self-contented
• vainglorious
• self-asserting
• egotistic
• self-satisfied
• self-complacent
• disciplined
• egoistic
• self-applauding
• self-poised
• self-important
• overweening
• self-sufficient
• self-conceited
• unself-conscious
• self-reliant
• stuck-up
• self-composed
• self-contained
• self-collected
• self-promoting
• self-controlled

Dissimilar Words

• timid
• diffident
• meek
• insecure
• modest
• humble
• nervous
• unassertive
• unassuming
• quiet
• jittery
• unpretentious
• self-distrustful
• jumpy
• shy
• reserved
• self-doubting
• bashful
• demure
• mousy
• overmodest
• self-reproachful
• self-reproving
• self-critical

2

as in hovering

Related Words

• hovering
• hanging
• sailing
• awash
• gliding
• drifting
• wafting
• afloat
• buoyant
• floating
• unsinkable
• free-floating
• floaty

Dissimilar Words

• sunk
• sinking
• high and dry
• aground

poised

2 of 2

verb

past tense of poise

1

as in braced

to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally

the disgraced business executive poised herself for the difficult press conference

Synonyms & Similar Words

• braced
• fortified
• readied
• strengthened
• steeled
• nerved
• armed
• forearmed
• bolstered
• reinforced
• psyched (up)
• inspired
• enforced
• sustained
• emboldened
• encouraged
• inured
• hardened
• comforted
• buttressed
• roused
• toughened
• heartened
• rallied
• seasoned
• propped (up)
• buoyed (up)
• stirred
• supported
• boosted
• cheered (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• shook
• discouraged
• daunted
• unnerved
• disheartened
• demoralized
• softened
• undermined
• weakened
• undercut
• tired
• dispirited
• sapped
• debilitated
• enfeebled
• psyched (out)
• prostrated
• enervated

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

• hovered
• sailed
• floated
• glided
• drifted
• swam
• wafted
• rode
• hung
• bobbed
• dangled
• suspended
• buoyed
• ballooned
• rafted

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• settled
• sank
• plunged
• lunged
• dived
• immersed
• dipped
• submerged
• submersed

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of poised

Adjective

So my oldest, Richard, is super poised and has always sort of been the rock for our family. — Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 26 Mar. 2026

Jones has played so well and has looked so poised, and the team has done such a solid job with him at the controls that there has been talk lately about a possible quarterback controversy brewing in the Bay Area. — Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025

Verb

Richardson is poised to compete with Leonard, a 2025 sixth-round pick, to be Jones’ top backup. — James Boyd, New York Times, 28 July 2026

As voters in both Kansas and Missouri gear up for the election, messaging around democracy is poised to play a key role in either state. — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026