as in bracing
to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally
I have to psych myself up before every swimming competition
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for psyching (up)
Verb
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Now the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic are bracing for blizzard conditions and airlines are already trying to ease the storm's impact on operations.—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
21 Feb. 2026 -
More than 570 students and dozens of staff are in limbo, awaiting answers and bracing for a possible sudden closure.—
Kate Armanini,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Iran already appears to be preparing for this option by fortifying its defenses around its nuclear assets, satellite images from Vantor indicate.—
Nancy A. Youssef,
The Atlantic,
21 Feb. 2026
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Inside church walls, some are already fortifying rooms and stockpiling food and blankets.—
Caitlin Hu,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Psyching (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/psyching%20%28up%29. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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