1
as in bracing
to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally
the disgraced business executive poised herself for the difficult press conference
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hovering
to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air
the falcon poised in the air for an instant before diving to attack its prey
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poising
Verb
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As the federal government shutdown drags into its 24th day, millions of American families are bracing for the possibility that November’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will not arrive on time.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025 -
Tracy’s dialogue, though absent the staccato non sequiturs of the director’s earlier work, has a bracing nastiness; every visual flourish and every menacing thrum of the score, by Jerskin Fendrix, escalates the intensity of Stone and Plemons’s bravura showdown.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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These sausage bites are the appetizer that will keep crowds hovering around the buffet table.—
Mary Alice Russell,
Southern Living,
22 Oct. 2025
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Disney+ churn rates had been steady at around 3-4 percent per month consistently this year, with churn rates at Hulu hovering at 4-5 percent per month.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Hunter, acquired at the trade deadline last season in a move viewed at the time as fortifying an already stout roster, will likely be a mainstay in the starting lineup, at least while Strus is out.—
Joe Vardon,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
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Once that decision is made, Posey and the rest of the Giants’ brass will shift its attention to fortifying their roster, generally, and their pitching depth, specifically.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The former ocean liner, which sailed from the 1930s to the 1960s, now serves as a floating hotel and offers paranormal after-hours tours.—
Kristine Hansen,
Travel + Leisure,
23 Oct. 2025
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For architecture fans, the hotel can help set up journeys to pagods and temples over 700 years old; other excursions on offer include trips to floating fishing villages such as Cửa Vạn and Vung Viêng and ethical pearl cultivation.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Washington and Beijing are readying for a high-stakes week of talks which will culminate in a meeting between their respective leaders.—
Prashant Rao,
semafor.com,
24 Oct. 2025
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It was thought that the simple last scene of Tom readying Ethan’s bedroom and giving the always subtly expressive Ruffalo a moment of quiet introspection would do the trick.—
Chris O'Falt,
IndieWire,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Columbus continued to search for gold before sailing to the neighboring island, now known as Cuba.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025
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Below Deck Sailing Yacht star Daisy Kelliher is sailing the seas with her very own new podcast, The Hollywood Reporter can exclusively reveal.—
McKinley Franklin,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Drinking beers with everyone in this restaurant at this hotel, and going to a quarry and swimming with Brad and (executive producer) Mark Roybal.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
20 Oct. 2025
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In June, a child drowned while swimming with his family at Hamilton Creek Park.—
Kirsten Fiscus,
Nashville Tennessean,
20 Oct. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Poising.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poising. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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