psyching (out)

Definition of psyching (out)next
present participle of psych (out)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for psyching (out)
Verb
  • Clumsiness notwithstanding, bringing a criminal case against a journalist who was reporting on a protest is an authoritarian tactic—a means of frightening the press away from uncovering the truth.
    Quinta Jurecic, The Atlantic, 30 Jan. 2026
  • But monks there complained that the slain king was walking around at night, frightening them with strange sounds.
    Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The air in the room changed immediately, terrifying little Liza.
    Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 14 Mar. 2026
  • Pic was written and directed by horror filmmaker Ian Tuason, and follows the host (Nina Kiri) of a popular paranormal podcast who becomes haunted by terrifying recordings mysteriously sent her way.
    Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • General Daily Insight for March 27, 2026 Having fun can make intimidating schedules much easier to handle.
    Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2026
  • But those projects can be expensive to design and intimidating to apply for.
    Mark Dee March 27, Idaho Statesman, 27 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • During the first phase, last spring, before DHS got the infusion of new money, Noem led a shock-and-awe campaign aimed mostly at scaring people into leaving.
    Nick Miroff, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
  • At the time, local hunters blamed the Ping for scaring away game.
    Andrew Coletti, Popular Science, 26 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • One rabid mongoose bite later, and Ben is a skull-crushing, face-ripping menace terrorizing Lucy and her friends.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
  • While there have been multiple iterations of the KKK, in the 1960s, Klans throughout the country were responding to the Civil Rights Movement and desegregation by terrorizing Black activists and their allies.
    Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • On the other hand, taupe bags work just as well with bold color pairings, softening them with a sense of ease.
    Minty Mellon, Vogue, 31 Mar. 2026
  • So far lawmakers haven’t, slowing, softening and then shooting down a bipartisan measure that would have enlisted the state Department of Agriculture to take on the burgeoning pest.
    Mark Dee March 31, Idaho Statesman, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Wikipedia will still have to contend with AI bots sapping its bandwidth, but at least this will ensure that the text those AIs are learning from is accurate and human-generated—not some AI ouroboros.
    Jon Martindale, PC Magazine, 27 Mar. 2026
  • Despite morale-sapping staff layoffs, bizarre executive orders and a 43-day federal government shutdown last fall, the grandeur and serenity of national parks in California remain irresistible to outdoors lovers looking to unwind.
    Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • First-year manager Craig Stammen is wasting little time getting his bench players into the starting lineup.
    Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
  • Shares of Sarepta rose more than 20% in early trading Wednesday after the company presented preliminary data on a pair of treatments for rare, muscle-wasting diseases.
    Damian Garde, STAT, 25 Mar. 2026
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Psyching (out).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/psyching%20%28out%29. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.

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