as in to brace
to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally
I have to psych myself up before every swimming competition
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of psych (up)
Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025
Kurosawa’s films contain both the greatest vastness of nature and the deepest truth of the human psyche.
—Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2025
Business classes in universities across the nation will ponder Taylor’s successful grip on our psyche.
—Misty L. Heggeness, Time, 17 Aug. 2025
The solipsism of low self-esteem is one of the wonders of the human psyche.
—Vivian Gornick, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for psych (up)
Noun
These moments help rewire the emotional circuitry away from validation-seeking and back toward genuine connection, what the psyche is truly longing for beneath the performance.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025
Kurosawa’s films contain both the greatest vastness of nature and the deepest truth of the human psyche.
—Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2025
Business classes in universities across the nation will ponder Taylor’s successful grip on our psyche.
—Misty L. Heggeness, Time, 17 Aug. 2025
The solipsism of low self-esteem is one of the wonders of the human psyche.
—Vivian Gornick, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for psych (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for psych (up)
Verb
-
The Windy City has prepared for more than a week for looming National Guard deployments and Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, from the governor bracing for a court fight to parade planners postponing.—
Priscilla Alvarez,
CNN Money,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Lucid Motors As luxury electric vehicle company Lucid Motors prepares to launch its Gravity SUV in Europe, interim CEO Marc Winterhoff is bracing for a fast-approaching deadline in the United States and laying out his strategy for dealing with its after-effects.—
Ed Garsten,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Jackson carved them up in the passing game, then sapped their souls with his scrambles.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
That much is clear from the moment Freyne and Pat Cunnane’s high-concept script (a real Black List special) first drops us into the Hyatt-like Junction where souls process what’s happened and have seven days to pick their final destinations from a variety of convention floor displays.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
When travelers think of luxurious travel, buses aren't necessarily top of mind.—
Opheli Garcia Lawler,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Lonely nights and a racing mind spiraled him into a deep depression.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Trying to stay ahead of the game, for Dick’s the acquisition of Foot Locker also fortifies relationships with Nike and Adidas, which still dominate global footwear sales, and gives Dick’s negotiating leverage.—
Mark Faithfull,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
In the ultra-competitive Western Conference, the purple and gold will be looking to continue fortifying their roster, likely through the start of the regular season, with the trade deadline of February 6th circled on their calendar.—
Gabe Smallson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In that spirit, the exhibition resists the expectation that women and non-binary artists must define themselves in contrast to a male norm.—
Caterina De Biasio,
Vogue,
11 Sep. 2025
-
The spirit of his work, which earned him a humanism in medicine scholarship in medical school, is what prompted him to call Sutton-Schulman.—
Duaa Eldeib,
ProPublica,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Ketamine works by stimulating the brain’s resilience mechanisms, according to Krystal.—
Rachel Hale,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The team behind the research noted that many of these genes are tied to developmental delay, which may have played a role in the slower pace of postnatal brain growth in humans compared to chimpanzees.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Somewhere, creative teams are readying a rock opera and a Saturday morning cartoon.—
Graham Hillard,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Ugarte’s adjustment of his positioning readies him to attack the space behind the defence.—
Ahmed Walid,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Cherry breaks a Champagne flute on her own head and runs out of the gallery, screaming that Laura attacked her.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Fowler's character, Randall, gets involved in the group of true crime enthusiasts when he's promoted to the position of head doorman at the Arconia after Lester's death.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Psych (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/psych%20%28up%29. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share