as in to brace
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 psych (up)
Verb
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England are braced for potential disruption to their two warm-up friendlies in Florida, against New Zealand in Tampa on Saturday, and Costa Rica in Orlando on June 10.—
Dan Kilpatrick,
New York Times,
3 June 2026 -
Although the novel’s center does not quite hold, O’Farrell’s emotional intelligence — the heart and heat of her characters — braces this sometimes unwieldy chronicle of a nation that has been subject to cumbrous historic agonies.—
Rachel Vorona Cote,
Vulture,
2 June 2026
Verb
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The five-day trade fair drew Black businesspersons from dozens of states, fortifying Jackson’s assertion that economic development is the way to Black power.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
6 June 2026
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In his lethal line of work, Lobo comes fortified with an arsenal of guns, blades, grenades, and a wicked titanium chain equipped with a sharp hook.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
6 June 2026
Verb
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The delay on the visas meant waiting three months for the SS Marco Polo to return to Genoa, then ready itself for the next crossing.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
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Hong attributed the months of delay to the overhaul of the ship, safety checks and readying the necessary paperwork.—
Wayne Chang,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
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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 10 Jun. 2026.
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