1
as in bracing
to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally
the disgraced business executive poised herself for the difficult press conference
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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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Large portions of the Northeast and northern Appalachians are bracing for a deep chill after the National Weather Service (NWS) issued widespread freeze warnings and frost advisories, set to take effect overnight Friday into early Saturday morning.—
Theo Burman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Sep. 2025 -
The changing demographics amongst this younger generation of Americans could have far-reaching implications for the economy, and many higher ed institutions—and college applicants—are bracing for its impact on the college admissions process.—
Christopher Rim,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In contrast, Rivian (65 days), Ford (62 days), and GMC (58 days) had the highest levels, each hovering around a two-month supply.—
Michael Harley,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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Lacob expects everything to reflect a championship pedigree, and the Valkyries work with that Warriors’ aura hovering over them.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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If readings reach dangerous levels, astronauts can construct a makeshift radiation shield inside Orion, fortifying themselves between the spacecraft's heatshield and water storage canisters, both of which are better at absorbing penetrating radiation than other onboard materials.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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Just this past offseason Miami put an emphasis on fortifying the trenches, correcting a past wrong, adding players with size and girth on the offensive and defensive line via the NFL Draft.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Boyan Slat founded The Ocean Cleanup in 2013 with the goal of removing 90% of floating ocean plastic by 2040.—
Elisabeth Brier,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
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However, with the outbreak of World War I, the British Admiralty requisitioned the ship and converted it into a floating hospital.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Farther along, candies are packed into boxes by hand, readying them to join the roughly 3 million treats Rebecca Ruth sells each year.—
Robin Roenker,
Southern Living,
13 Sep. 2025
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Nurabot, which took just 10 months to develop, has been undergoing testing at a hospital in Taiwan since April 2025 — and now, the company is readying the robot for commercial launch early next year.—
Rebecca Cairns,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In 2025, Thorne’s Netflix miniseries Adolescence became a global juggernaut, sailing to the top of streaming charts and sparking international conversation.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Sep. 2025
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Products sailing out of Busan can be moved via two active trans-Pacific services that stop at the Port of Los Angeles.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Plymouth White Horse Beach and Long Beach were closed to swimming on Sunday, as the beaches had red flag warnings due to the white shark off Manomet Point.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
16 Sep. 2025
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By now, your head might be swimming, and that’s understandable.—
Steve Vernon,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Poising.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poising. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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