Aplomb
n.calm, capableformal
What it means
Calm confidence and self-control in a difficult or unexpected situation.
Reach for it when praising composed performance when pressure was visible
Soraya handled the unexpected questions with impressive aplomb.
Choose between these
7- playful
coolness
unruffled manner suits an informal account
not when Coolness may imply emotional distance and sounds flippant in dignified praise.
- everyday
belief in ability or judgment is the main quality
not when Confidence can be loud, private, or misplaced and need not look composed.
- warm
graceful readiness and social control are most visible
not when Poise emphasizes presentation and may exist without inner confidence.
- professional
emotional steadiness under pressure is the evidence
not when Composure can be quiet containment without aplomb's confident ease.
- formal
calm self-confidence shapes the person's manner
not when Assurance also names a promise to someone else, unlike aplomb's poised conduct.
- formal
self-possession
control of one's reactions deserves precise elevated wording
not when Self-possession is conspicuous and lacks aplomb's hint of stylish ease.
- literary
evenness of mind persists through changing fortune
not when Equanimity is inward calm and may not produce decisive performance.
Said against
3- panic
- awkwardness
- discomposure
It naturally appears in
3- with aplomb
She answered the hostile question with aplomb.
- considerable aplomb
The understudy carried the leading role with considerable aplomb.
- handle with aplomb
Experienced guides handle sudden route changes with aplomb.
Where this comes from
- wiktionary, English noun sense: self-confident assurance or poise opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.