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
  • Trump’s actions come as Ukraine is bracing for a stark winter confronting Russia’s ongoing attacks on its energy infrastructure to heat homes and keep the lights on.
    — Lisa Mascaro, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Those warnings, and now Bajaria’s exit, have Wall Street bracing for more turbulence ahead.
    — Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 16 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 23 Oct. 2026.

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