as in to brace
to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally
I have to psych myself up before every swimming competition
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in soul
an immaterial force within a human being thought to give the body life, energy, and power
disturbing, enigmatic paintings that seem to embody the psyche of this brilliant but troubled artist
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in mind
the part of a person that feels, thinks, perceives, wills, and especially reasons
a novel that explores the psyche of a depressed teen
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of psych (up)
Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 27 Mar. 2026
Like Wright’s past games, this one would be about tinkering, about trial and error, about classifying and reclassifying and watching as one’s psyche-map changed.
—Eric Boodman, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2026
The Oxford English Dictionary cites an early use of the term by psychologist David Bakan, who used it in a 1966 essay to describe the self-assertive qualities of the psyche.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 25 Mar. 2026
But however the lawsuits play out, the issue of tech’s impact on our behavior and our psyches is top of mind for a growing number of physicians, parents, and employers—and will only get more urgent as AI plays a bigger role in our lives.
—Matthew Heimer, Fortune, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for psych (up)
Noun
Wild coach John Hynes admitted that finding a way to win a game that had seemingly slipped away was important for his team’s psyche.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 27 Mar. 2026
Like Wright’s past games, this one would be about tinkering, about trial and error, about classifying and reclassifying and watching as one’s psyche-map changed.
—Eric Boodman, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2026
The Oxford English Dictionary cites an early use of the term by psychologist David Bakan, who used it in a 1966 essay to describe the self-assertive qualities of the psyche.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 25 Mar. 2026
But however the lawsuits play out, the issue of tech’s impact on our behavior and our psyches is top of mind for a growing number of physicians, parents, and employers—and will only get more urgent as AI plays a bigger role in our lives.
—Matthew Heimer, Fortune, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for psych (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for psych (up)
Verb
-
But he had been braced for the possibility and immediately set his mind on using that time to his advantage.—
Vincent Z. Mercogliano,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Maritime traffic to South Africa has jumped as shipping companies look for safer routes around the Cape of Good Hope — even if the journey is much longer and pricier — while Tanger Med, Africa’s largest container port, is bracing for a surge in demand.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Young Alfred Tennyson grew up in a similarly provincial bit of England, tucked away in his father’s vicarage on a remote part of the east coast of England in a village of fewer than a hundred souls.—
Kathryn Hughes,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Because this energy is centered in Scorpio and Cancer, we’re blessed with the depth of soul needed to accept the true needs of others and ourselves.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Moreover, Trump's attempts to take credit for lower prices earlier in his term may link him to prices in voters' minds.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Nguyen was also the mind behind the mural’s postcard style, and its setting against the Santa Ana Mountains and a California sunset.—
Victoria Le,
Oc Register,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Slivers of domestic Wagyu tenderloin sit in a deep salsa negra fortified with soy sauce.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Celebrity hairstylist Sami Knight recommends focusing on products that support scalp health and strengthen the hair fibers — like the Epres bond repair treatment, which can repair and fortify damaged strands.—
Rebecca Strong,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Ancient Mayans later believed cenotes were sacred portals to the underworld, where gods and spirits dwelled.—
Ryan Brennan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Apr. 2026
-
By the 1980s, the mob had slowed, but some say the spirit of the mafia never left Gaetano's basement.—
Kennedy Cook,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Those claims alleged that companies had engineered products to be more addictive; for example, by adding chemicals to speed and intensify nicotine delivery to the brain and to ease inhalation, so that smokers would become unable to quit.—
Jeannie Suk Gersen,
New Yorker,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Crouch, who suffered a debilitating brain aneurysm a decade ago, also has Medicare, which covers people who are 65 or older or have disabilities.—
Sam Whitehead,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Just as the Artemis 2 astronauts are preparing to return home from their epic moon trip, a very different crew is readying to launch to the International Space Station.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The final week of the season will be a laboratory, readying the team for when the games count.—
Sports Columnist,
San Francisco Chronicle,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Gets drilled up high in the wrist his second at-bat and then third one takes a good swing and then throws the next one head-high.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Psych (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/psych%20%28up%29. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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