Poise
n.calm, capablewarm
Meaning 1
Calm confidence and self-control, especially under attention or pressure.
Reach for it when praising composed presence without implying that emotion must be hidden
She answered the hostile question with poise and then corrected its premise.
Choose between these
5- warm
when quiet confidence shapes the person's manner
not when Assurance can tip into certainty or boldness without self-control.
- warm
when dignity and considerate ease matter
not when Grace can be moral or aesthetic and need not involve pressure.
- professional
when emotional steadiness under pressure is central
not when Composure does not necessarily include confidence, grace, or social ease.
- formal
self-possession
when someone retains command of their responses
not when It can sound detached and does not fit physical balance.
- literary
when difficult circumstances are handled with stylish confidence
not when The uncommon word can sound amused or showy in serious praise.
Meaning 2
Graceful balance and controlled bearing.
Reach for it when describing stable, coordinated posture or movement
The dancer recovered her poise before the next turn.
Choose between these
4- everyday
when physical stability is the exact quality
not when Balance says nothing about elegance or controlled bearing.
- warm
steadiness
when reliable control of movement matters
not when Steadiness may be mechanical and lacks poise's grace.
- professional
when forces or posture are in technical balance
not when The clinical term is unsuitable for personal praise.
- formal
bearing
when posture and manner create the impression
not when Bearing can be stiff or imposing rather than poised.
Said against
3- panic
- awkwardness
- imbalance
It naturally appears in
3- remarkable poise
The young moderator showed remarkable poise when the microphones failed.
- poise under pressure
Her poise under pressure came from preparation, not indifference.
- balance and poise
The exercise develops balance and poise without forcing the joints.
Where this comes from
- wiktionary, English noun sense: composure and self-assured dignity opens in a new tab for meaning 1 · retrieved 2026-07-26
- wiktionary, English noun sense: physical balance or equilibrium opens in a new tab for meaning 2 · 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.