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as in posture
a general way of holding the body the woman's poise suggested that she was accustomed to having her wishes carried out promptly and without question

Synonyms & Similar Words

poise

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word poise different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of poise are address, savoir faire, and tact. While all these words mean "skill and grace in dealing with others," poise may imply both tact and address but stresses self-possession and ease in meeting difficult situations.

answered the accusations with unruffled poise

When would address be a good substitute for poise?

The words address and poise can be used in similar contexts, but address stresses dexterity and grace in dealing with new and trying situations and may imply success in attaining one's ends.

brought it off with remarkable address

When can savoir faire be used instead of poise?

The words savoir faire and poise are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, savoir faire is likely to stress worldly experience and a sure awareness of what is proper or expedient.

the savoir faire of a seasoned traveler

Where would tact be a reasonable alternative to poise?

The meanings of tact and poise largely overlap; however, tact implies delicate and considerate perception of what is appropriate.

questions showing a lack of tact

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of poise
Noun
Surrounded by future Hall of Famers at his position, the 25-year-old upstart registered his first career triple-double in his second career start, continuing to exhibit poise beyond his two years in the league. Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 3 Apr. 2025 From being able to host an impeccable event at a moment’s notice to showing graciousness in every circumstance to having an impressively clean and organized home, manners and poise come to mind. Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 1 Apr. 2025
Verb
The ruling’s long-ranging effects are still up in the air, but it is poised to have chilling, far-ranging effects on trans rights in the U.K. Abby Monteil, Them., 18 Apr. 2025 Related article Cheap things from China are poised to get pricey. Luciana Lopez, CNN Money, 18 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for poise
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poise
Noun
  • Our task today is to preserve whatever equilibrium is left and restore what has been destroyed.
    Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
  • To achieve a happy equilibrium, collaboration is required — as Newcastle fans will be painstakingly reminded over the coming months.
    Chris Waugh, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Middle-range investors (ages 36 to 50 or so) People in this group also can afford to maintain a relatively aggressive investment posture focused largely around stocks, stock funds and the like.
    Russ Wiles, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
  • By taking a less confrontational and militarist posture, however, China will give the West greater dilemmas to solve.
    RANA MITTER, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Now city leaders are bracing for a nearly $1-billion budget deficit.
    Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Chipotle, like other restaurants and fast-food chains that rely on supplies from Mexico, also forecast tepid annual comparable sales growth, bracing for a hit from inflation.
    Ananya Mariam Rajesh, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The early critical response has hovered north of the 90th percentile in favorability, though some reviewers argue the filmmakers have gone too narrow-focus on sheer authenticity, not to say shock value.
    Fred Schruers, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2025
  • But momentous events from beyond the stage hovered, too: In February, well after all 5,000 tickets had been sold for our two-night stand, Donald Trump dismissed multiple members of the Kennedy Center board and installed himself as the institution’s chairman.
    Ryan Miller, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • President Trump’s decision to lift hefty tariffs on most U.S. trading partners with a 90-day pause even while keeping in place a 125 percent on China is a significant reversal from his previous stance that relieved Republicans and led stock markets to spike.
    Alex Gangitano, The Hill, 9 Apr. 2025
  • What's more, even if Trump has moderated his stance on some tariffs, the charges remain historically high.
    Sarah Min, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • But all that has only fortified a character who went from hapless brother-in-law to inarguably the most evolved one of the bunch.
    Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Because the people in charge didn’t pick the right players, and didn’t draft well enough with the leftover picks to fortify the roster.
    Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Trump floated a plan to nix the federal income tax and replace revenue with money from tariffs.
    Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
  • After the attack, the juvenile creature was seen floating lifeless in the water, video footage shows.
    Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • But the pooch's positive attitude and adaptability to his wheelchair changed everything.
    Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Shahed drones in our skies reveal Putin’s true attitude toward Easter and toward human life.
    Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 19 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Poise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poise. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025.

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