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)
Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 26 July 2025
There’s a usefulness to showing this routine, especially as the line between what’s real and unreal blurs for Max, but the redundancy eventually wears on our own psyches, making the film feel like an unfortunate waiting game.
—Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 24 July 2025
But that period of drinking and self-immolating impulses was hardly the first such moment in his life, and this portrait aims to dig deep into his psyche and probe what’s haunted and dogged Joel since childhood.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 18 July 2025
Davidtz, who grew up in South Africa, is incredible in the pivotal role of Bobo’s hard-drinking and mentally unraveling mom Nicola, whose psyche gets rubbed raw by tragedy and does not see herself as a racist.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for psych (up)
Noun
The love triangle that unfolds symbolizes Leonard’s torn psyche: Michelle represents desire, uncertainty, emotional risk, while Sandra embodies love, dependability, future promise.
—Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 26 July 2025
There’s a usefulness to showing this routine, especially as the line between what’s real and unreal blurs for Max, but the redundancy eventually wears on our own psyches, making the film feel like an unfortunate waiting game.
—Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 24 July 2025
But that period of drinking and self-immolating impulses was hardly the first such moment in his life, and this portrait aims to dig deep into his psyche and probe what’s haunted and dogged Joel since childhood.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 18 July 2025
Davidtz, who grew up in South Africa, is incredible in the pivotal role of Bobo’s hard-drinking and mentally unraveling mom Nicola, whose psyche gets rubbed raw by tragedy and does not see herself as a racist.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for psych (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for psych (up)
Verb
-
Inspect mature trees with heavy or unbalanced limbs, which should be pruned or supported by cabling or bracing (a service provided by arborists).—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Aug. 2025
-
Immediate and widespread evacuations impacted over 2 million people as coastal towns braced for potential waves.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The soul of the person who wrote it, those that read it and dreamed with it.—
Lillian Metzmeier,
The Courier-Journal,
18 Aug. 2025
-
Beating Gauff on her own patch will need a hard soul and mindset.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
17 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Someone who remembers to ask about medication interactions when your mind goes blank.—
Liz Krieger,
The Atlantic,
7 Aug. 2025
-
Maladaptive daydreaming is a form of intense daydreaming characterized by the creation of unrealistic or fantastical situations, conversations, or stories in one’s own mind that are outside the realm of a person’s day-to-day life.—
Angelica Bottaro,
Verywell Health,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Earlier in the day, the signing of Lowe, who’d been designated for assignment by the Washington Nationals last week, proved another step in trying to fortify the roster for the postseason.—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
19 Aug. 2025
-
Friday's summit between Trump and Putin in Alaska -- to which Ukrainian representatives were not invited -- ended with Russia demanding that Ukraine cede the entirety of its contested and fortified eastern Donetsk region in exchange for an end to the fighting, two sources told ABC News.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
17 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Festivities will finish with a lantern lighting ceremony at around 8 p.m. Six stone lanterns and paper lanterns will be released on the Japanese Garden pond and the Frog Pond so that, according to the tradition, spirits can return to their resting places.—
Kathryn Kovalenko,
Twin Cities,
13 Aug. 2025
-
For Gela, the spirits represent the fear of something.—
Marta Balaga,
Variety,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Yogurt also provides calcium, B vitamins, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and is sometimes fortified with vitamin D. Such nutrients contribute to bone, nerve, brain and immune health.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
13 Aug. 2025
-
Omega-3s also have powerful anti-inflammatory properties and can support and protect the health of the heart and brain.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Trump is readying plans to unveil levies on all products containing semiconductor chips as soon as next week.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
6 Aug. 2025
-
But the future of Boise State’s receiving corps is already in the building, and one of those athletes, sophomore Cam Bates, is readying himself for a breakout year.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
5 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Delimitros said one of the truck’s side view mirrors struck her in the head, causing minor injuries.—
David Hernandez,
sandiegouniontribune.com,
19 July 2017
-
Cal Fire representatives said the current parking mess has already impacted them because the driveway to their station enters the highway not far from the trail head.—
J. Harry Jones,
Ramona Sentinel,
19 July 2017
Cite this Entry
“Psych (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/psych%20%28up%29. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share