as in stances
a general way of holding the body
the woman's poise suggested that she was accustomed to having her wishes carried out promptly and without question
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in fortifies
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 hovers
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poises
Noun
-
Both men have been extremely critical of Israel, taking sometimes wildly controversial stances — particularly Piker, who has expressed support for Hamas.—
Jada Yuan,
HollywoodReporter,
4 June 2026 -
While working through this stretch, García has tried various stances to figure out what’s most comfortable.—
Charlotte Varnes,
New York Times,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
The Plumb Club is involved in this effort because presenting third-party assurances of an item’s sourcing and production history builds customer trust, drives sales and thus fortifies the gem, jewelry and watch industries.—
Kyle Roderick,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
-
What fortifies it the most is an appearance from Williams’ grandfather midway through the song.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
Mark Bezos—Jeff’s brother—hovers around the bar.—
Sam Stone,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
2 June 2026
-
Astrology, a pursuit that hovers in the nebulous space between science and storytelling, is not exactly a robust academic field, and LaFaive had no scholarly studies of Goodman’s life or work to consult.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
The Trap of Fear-Driven Job Hugging The psychological weight of rapid technological change causes many capable employees to retreat into defensive postures.—
Glenn Llopis,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
-
The United Arab Emirates has adopted one of the most assertive postures during the war.—
May 19,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
Although the novel’s center does not quite hold, O’Farrell’s emotional intelligence — the heart and heat of her characters — braces this sometimes unwieldy chronicle of a nation that has been subject to cumbrous historic agonies.—
Rachel Vorona Cote,
Vulture,
2 June 2026
-
Now, New York braces for a potential showdown with either the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder or Victor Wembanyama’s rising San Antonio Spurs.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
Elon Musk reportedly floats SpaceX, Tesla merger Elon Musk has reportedly discussed merging SpaceX with Tesla, a deal that would give the world’s richest person even more control over his sprawling tech empire.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
29 May 2026
-
Connor McDavid almost floats above the ice, faster than anyone in the sport’s history.—
Josh Yohe,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
Public attitudes have changed since the Sox deal.—
Rick Pearson,
Chicago Tribune,
2 June 2026
-
Even when taking into account partisan identification, ideology, racial attitudes and demographic characteristics, Fox News viewership remains significantly associated with more support for the great replacement theory.—
Adam Eichen,
The Conversation,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
The event will temporarily move to Laurel Park with a limited crowd as Pimlico readies for 2027.—
Baltimore Sun staff,
Baltimore Sun,
16 May 2026
-
Mercedes seemed more catchable than in the opening three races of the 2026 calendar, a blip on the radar as the team readies a bigger upgrade package for the Canadian Grand Prix this month.—
Madeline Coleman,
New York Times,
12 May 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Poises.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poises. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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