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
Mother’s Little Boy (Nick Barrington, humorously self-possessed) is a curious observer of the changes taking place around him.
—
Frank Rizzo, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
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
Frank Rizzo, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-possessed
Adjective
-
Iranian state television on Sunday morning took a page from demonstrators, having their correspondents appear on streets in several cities to show calm areas with a date stamp shown on screen.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
-
His brands, including Juicy Fruit and Spearmint, promoted gum as a way to calm nerves, curb hunger and stay focused.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Each of the 119 rooms is spacious and serene, outfitted with deep soaking tubs, Hästens beds, and balconies that open to crisp mountain air.—
Mark Ellwood,
AFAR Media,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The property itself packs in a small kitchen and living area with a wood-burning stove, plus a serene bedroom and laundry room upstairs.—
Lori Keong,
Architectural Digest,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The mayor called on the community to remain peaceful in the aftermath.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
But once inside, as the crackling fire quickly warms you up, there’s no better feeling after hours on the trail than dropping your backpack on the floor, taking off your boots and settling in for a few days of peaceful escape.—
The Denver Post,
Denver Post,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
More aggressive than the Tide, more physical, more composed and clearly better prepared, the Hoosiers showed zero rust after a month-long break after the Big Ten championship game.—
Paul Myerberg,
USA Today,
2 Jan. 2026
-
But Peggy never forgot her roots; a genre-blending selector with range, she’s known for her energetic but composed sets.—
Kelly Washington,
Refinery29,
22 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
After more than six months of study, Tianwen-2 will leave the asteroid and drop the collected sample down to Earth before heading off to investigate 311P/PanSTARRS, a complicated celestial object that’s part asteroid and part comet.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
31 Dec. 2025
-
However, these days, a more collected look is preferred.—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
30 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Linda Blair would ultimately be cast as the possessed child, Regan.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
27 Dec. 2025
-
David Dastmalchian stars as Jack Delroy, an opportunistic host who invites a possessed girl and a child psychologist as his guests for the night in a desperate bid for ratings.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
In Rian Johnson's Wake Up Dead Man, a tranquil church becomes the scene of a shocking (and seemingly impossible) murder.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Dec. 2025
-
The Corn Islands Flung more than 40 miles off the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua, the Corn Islands have long been spoken of by in-the-know travelers looking for a truly tranquil escape.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-possessed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-possessed. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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