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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While the industry is bracing for news of Xbox layoffs, Sony decided to hop into the boiling pot first by announcing that PlayStation would no longer sell physical discs for its new games starting in 2028.
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Always making sure her boys balanced their royal duties with play, Diana had pre-teens Harry and William bracing themselves for a thrilling day at Britain's most popular amusement park, Thorpe Park, in 1993.
Verb
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When both extend simultaneously – as the real bird does during hovering – the lift increase is greater than the sum of the two movements separately, but their pitching effects cancel each other out.
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Markets have responded to the absence of immediate escalation, with WTI hovering around $70/bbl, but the strategic conditions that generated the crisis persist.
Verb
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Formerly the Vice President of Global Brand and Marketing at Amazon, Cheever is now fortifying Pinterest’s position at the intersection of culture, commerce, and technology.
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And the image of that postgame gathering became emblematic of the bond that’s fortifying this USMNT.
Verb
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But photos showed that the blue sealant had started to peel away, leaving chunks floating on the surface, while algae growth turned the water green.
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The character famously filmed herself floating in the pool and living her best Southern California sorority girl life.
Verb
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Catalan composer and experimental musician Marina Herlop is readying a new album, Dja Dja.
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The city is also readying for the possibility of pop star Taylor Swift and football player Travis Kelce’s wedding at Madison Square Garden.
Verb
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Options for activities include paddleboarding and chasing Arctic swells in the fjords, sailing through sea cliffs and the uninhabited Hornstrandir Nature Reserve, and spotting whales, seals, Arctic foxes, and more wildlife.
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Sail4th 250 kicks off Friday, featuring 40 vessels representing 40 nations sailing from the Verrazzano Bridge all the way north to the George Washington Bridge and docking at piers on 15 miles of waterfront across the city.
Verb
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According to officials, an adult woman was swimming in the river when she was bitten by an alligator, resulting in serious injuries.
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Authorities have warned people to take extra care when swimming in unsupervised areas, such as rivers or lakes, following the deaths of around 40 people in France over the past week.
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Cite this Entry
“Poising.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poising. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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