as in to brace
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 psych (up)
Verb
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Born into the cult, Prophet draws comparisons between the group’s apocalyptic dogma (braced for a Soviet nuclear strike, the church built extensive Montana bomb shelters in the early 1990s), and Christian Nationalism, QAnon and the MAGA movement.—
R. Daniel Foster,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025 -
Colorado’s health department is bracing for several layoffs early next month for workers focused on cancer and heart disease prevention, thanks to the apparent loss of nearly $2 million in federal grant funding and the state’s own bleak fiscal outlook.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
28 June 2025
Verb
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Both cow's milk and oat milk may be fortified with vitamins A and D, so check the label for vitamin content.8 Vitamin A: Helps to keep the skin and eyes healthy.—
Lana Barhum,
Verywell Health,
12 July 2025
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Khan, by contrast, is being tasked with a narrower but highly strategic mission: fortifying Apple's supply chain, localizing production, and driving environmental accountability.—
Nate Bennett,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
Verb
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The Hollywood Reporter reported in April that Bieber had assembled a new team and was readying the next chapter of his professional career.—
Ethan Millman,
HollywoodReporter,
13 July 2025
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That phase entails readying the land for the future Wawa site as well, road improvements on Billtown Road to better accommodate the development and extending Gellhaus Lane through the project site as part of the future expanded Veterans Drive.—
Matthew Glowicki,
The Courier-Journal,
13 July 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Psych (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/psych%20%28up%29. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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