as in bracing
to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally
I have to psych myself up before every swimming competition
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for psyching (up)
Verb
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Like O’Leary, elder care industry leaders nationwide are bracing for the loss of a key pillar of their workforce.—
Tami Luhby,
CNN Money,
1 Feb. 2026 -
Ordering a bracing cold martini that kisses the rim just feels right in a space like this.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Canada’s defense commitment Canada has spent nearly a billion dollars fortifying its southern border.—
Paula Newton,
CNN Money,
20 Jan. 2026
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Shifting the team’s focus to 2027 Hayes’s attention will soon shift to fortifying her roster with the strongest candidates for World Cup qualifiers this year.—
Melanie Anzidei,
New York Times,
9 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Psyching (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/psyching%20%28up%29. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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