as in calm
free from emotional or mental agitation
a supremely self-possessed teacher who could handle any crisis
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Recent Examples of self-possessed
The version of you that steps forward now feels more self-possessed, radiant, and rooted.
—
Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 21 Sep. 2025
Even for someone used to covering for her daughter’s wrongdoings, Tracey is remarkably self-possessed as Laura pries mercilessly into her life and accuses Cherry of every crime under the sun.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
Yoro came out with top marks in reports, a teenager who looked self-possessed.
—Andy Mitten, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2025
Smart, grounded, and self-possessed (not to mention the closest AJLT got to middle-class representation), Pittman’s Nya made more sense as part of the ensemble.
—Judy Berman, Time, 28 May 2025
And if ‘Robot & Frank’ director Jake Schreier’s Marvel debut is among the best and most self-possessed of these movies since Thanos snapped the mega-franchise half, its pleasures still feel like faint echoes of the series’ previous highs.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 5 May 2025
His early writing—often brilliant and, given his youth, boldly self-possessed, sometimes to a fault—is driven by certainty.
—Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 May 2025
Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 21 Sep. 2025
Even for someone used to covering for her daughter’s wrongdoings, Tracey is remarkably self-possessed as Laura pries mercilessly into her life and accuses Cherry of every crime under the sun.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
Yoro came out with top marks in reports, a teenager who looked self-possessed.
—Andy Mitten, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2025
Smart, grounded, and self-possessed (not to mention the closest AJLT got to middle-class representation), Pittman’s Nya made more sense as part of the ensemble.
—Judy Berman, Time, 28 May 2025
And if ‘Robot & Frank’ director Jake Schreier’s Marvel debut is among the best and most self-possessed of these movies since Thanos snapped the mega-franchise half, its pleasures still feel like faint echoes of the series’ previous highs.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 5 May 2025
His early writing—often brilliant and, given his youth, boldly self-possessed, sometimes to a fault—is driven by certainty.
—Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 May 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-possessed
Adjective
-
He was being put through training recently to test his ability to stay calm under pressure as Douglas tried to overstimulate his senses.—
Craig Shoup,
Nashville Tennessean,
3 Oct. 2025
-
What made the situation a whole lot easier for both of them was the fact that Breezy stayed happy and calm in her car seat through the whole episode.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
This serene, design-forward space oozes relaxation — cozy up in one of the sculptural chairs and get ready for one of the best massages in town.—
Angela Caraway-Carlton,
Miami Herald,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Among the Trees and Hilltops After Nobu’s serene luxury, Acre Resort was a lush escape.—
Lisa Greissinger,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Following the release, Hamas members who commit to peaceful coexistence and disarmament would receive amnesty, with safe passage offered to those wishing to leave Gaza for countries that have agreed to receive them.—
Amir Daftari,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
-
After Russia launched its full-scale invasion of its peaceful neighbor in 2022, zoo workers and local volunteers rushed to save thousands of animals at imminent risk of annihilation from missile attacks and shelling.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Only on particularly bumpy tarmac did the GTS-spec suspension become too jarring with the adaptive dampers stiffened up in sport mode, but switching them to normal offered the best of both worlds—excellent, composed body control and tuning that ironed out imperfections remarkably well.—
Peter Nelson,
Robb Report,
1 Oct. 2025
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The vocabulary being used by Qatar’s prime minister is strong, evocative and damning, a departure from his usual composed response to the incessant twists and turns of trying to end the 23-month war in Gaza.—
Paula Hancocks,
CNN Money,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
When the 24-year-old nets, the defender does his best to maintain his cool, calm and collected persona.—
Art de Roché,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Talking dogs, strange vehicles, conspiracy theories, stupid acronyms: life imitates cult fiction, apparently, and somewhere along the line our reality started to resemble, with uncanny specificity, the collected works of Thomas Pynchon.—
Book Marks
September 25,
Literary Hub,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The Nun pops out of a wall, a demon appears on a bed, crosses start to spin, a possessed figure scampers across the ceiling and a man with an axe cornered me in a random closet.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Sep. 2025
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As possessed people speak in foreign tongues and violence rises, Ahmed fears regaining memory, while the disciple fears his master’s decline may unleash an ancient evil.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The tranquil, upscale neighborhood of Pacific Palisades was devastated by the wildfires that ravaged Los Angeles County in January, destroying thousands of structures—including the home of celebrities such as Jeff Bridges, Paris Hilton, and Billy Crystal.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Out-of-towners were enjoying the warm weather and music on an outdoor deck at the American Fish Company in Southport, a small and tranquil city near the mouth of the Cape Fear River, when gunshots rang out.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
28 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-possessed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-possessed. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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