1
as in bracing
to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally
the disgraced business executive poised herself for the difficult press conference
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hovering
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 poising
Verb
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States, food banks and SNAP recipients have been bracing for an abrupt shift in how low-income people can get groceries.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
31 Oct. 2025 -
With projects bracing for termination, mission teams broken apart and safety protocols weakened, the guardrails that once kept NASA from repeating its worst tragedies are being stripped away in real time.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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West Ham were hovering above the relegation zone, which led to the reappointment of David Moyes, who replaced Manuel Pellegrini, and saw the January arrivals of stalwarts Jarrod Bowen and Tomas Soucek.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
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Another snippet from the trailer shows someone falling from the sky in the Upside Down as hovering masses of land bob around the clouds.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Meanwhile, the All’s Fair actress and soon-to-be-attorney has been quietly fortifying her Hidden Hills compound.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
24 Oct. 2025
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Hunter, acquired at the trade deadline last season in a move viewed at the time as fortifying an already stout roster, will likely be a mainstay in the starting lineup, at least while Strus is out.—
Joe Vardon,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Add texture to beds, couches, and chairs with a plush faux rabbit fur throw blanket, incorporate a pop of color with a throw pillow, and dress up your walls with practical floating shelves or sconces.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
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When Fort Baker, built in 1915, was decommissioned in the late 1980s, the land was handed over to the National Park Service, which spent years debating how to repurpose it — at one point even floating plans for a large convention complex.—
Benjamin Svetkey,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Washington and Beijing are readying for a high-stakes week of talks which will culminate in a meeting between their respective leaders.—
Prashant Rao,
semafor.com,
24 Oct. 2025
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It was thought that the simple last scene of Tom readying Ethan’s bedroom and giving the always subtly expressive Ruffalo a moment of quiet introspection would do the trick.—
Chris O'Falt,
IndieWire,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The sessions will continue in the Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, a private island sanctuary in the Bahamas, where guests will learn about coral restoration and marine protection, before sailing the turquoise waters with Horn to see the importance of protecting the delicate underwater ecosystems.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
31 Oct. 2025
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City Cruises along the Sacramento River will be concluding their seasonal Halloween rides with their final voyages sailing off Friday.—
Marcus Smith,
Sacbee.com,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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And no, there weren’t crowds swimming in Hurricane Melissa’s floodwaters on the streets.—
Alex Harris,
Miami Herald,
29 Oct. 2025
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Unlike the first one, Rana Pratap II wasn’t swimming in scam money.—
Snigdha Poonam,
The Dial,
28 Oct. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Poising.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poising. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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