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
  • Despite gridlocked traffic near the first two closure scenes in southwest Atlanta and some miscommunication and misdirection with trucks using side streets, Atlanta has braced itself handily so far.
    — Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 19 July 2026
  • After days of smoky skies and heavy heat, New Yorkers on Saturday were once again bracing for severe weather, which is expected to include intense thunderstorms, isolated tornadoes, and hail.
    — Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 18 July 2026
Definition of brace
Verb
  • New Orleans residents prepared for Bertha's arrival by fortifying their properties with sandbags, and many boat owners in the region moved their vessels out of docks located along the coast to safer locations.
    — Kenton Gewecke, ABC News, 22 July 2026
  • Iran began fortifying the entrances and building a secure perimeter surrounding the entire mountain and Natanz in 2025, according to the Institute for Science and International Security.
    — Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of fortify
Verb
  • Apple is readying its iPhone 18 family for release in September, and Greater China, as multinational corporations like to call it, accounts for upwards of 20% of Apple’s global revenue.
    — Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 16 July 2026
  • Apple is also rumored to be readying a foldable iPhone with a similar design, which could launch later this year.
    — Stevie Bonifield, The Verge, 15 July 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 23 Jul. 2026.

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