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
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for psych (up)
Verb
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With some non-citizens no longer eligible for Cal Fresh benefits, Orange County food banks are bracing for an influx of clients.—
Michele Gile,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026 -
After an exceptionally active winter, South Dakota is bracing for another winter storm in early spring, a reminder that the snow isn’t quite ready to pack up yet.—
Brandi D. Addison,
Sioux Falls Argus Leader,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Japan considers China its main regional security threat and has fortified the country's southwestern islands near the East China Sea in recent years.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 Mar. 2026
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The Jets were looking for a veteran to fortify their quarterback position and landed on Smith after the Raiders were set to release him.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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SpaceX, which maintains a large presence in Southern California’s burgeoning aerospace sector, is readying an initial public offering possibly for this summer that is expected to be the largest in history, perhaps raising as much as $75 billion.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
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The cease-and-desist letter came after a report from The Washington Post over the weekend that Patel had dispatched agents to review and redact the files in a potential move to ready them for a public release.—
PERRY STEIN AND JEREMY ROEBUCK THE WASHINGTON POST,
Arkansas Online,
1 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Psych (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/psych%20%28up%29. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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