psych (up)

verb

ˈsīk How to pronounce psych (up) (audio)
Definition of psych (up)next
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)
  1. brace
  2. fortify
  3. ready
Verb
  • Downstream, residents of the vast Navajo Nation braced for floodwaters not expected to peak until late Friday or early Saturday.
    — MEAD GRUVER, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
  • France is bracing for yet another wave of protests this weekend with authorities racing to prevent a repeat of the kind of violence and riots that hit the nation last week.
    — Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of brace
Verb
  • The dispute unfolds as North Korea fortifies the already heavily armed frontier and both sides trade accusations, with diplomacy stalled and Seoul’s military vowing a firm response.
    — Kim Tong-Hyung, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The shampoo nourishes the scalp with panthenol and niacinamide, while the conditioner fortifies strands with lipids for thicker-looking hair that resists breakage.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of fortify
Verb
  • The rest of the ensemble, including fiddler Jeremy Garrett, dobroist Andy Hall, and standup bassist Travis Book, are tuning up and readying themselves for the gig.
    — Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The festival is an annual opportunity to catch the best from the global festival circuit — especially as Oscar campaign season readies for November.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of ready
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.

Browse Nearby Words

psychs (out)
psych (up)
PT boat
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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 26 Oct. 2026.

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