1
as in composure
evenness of emotions or temper
that neurosurgeon's self-possession in the operating room is legendary
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2
as in restraint
the power to control one's actions, impulses, or emotions
the little girl's self-possession very occasionally gave way to crying fits
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Recent Examples of self-possession
This convincing image of masculine self-possession is misleading: A label mentions that René, who never established a career and fell into debt, died for reasons unknown shortly after the work was completed.
—
James Meyer, Artforum, 1 May 2025
With a powerful high that wears off in less than an hour, some addicts are compelled to use upwards of 20 to 30 times a day, leaving fleeting windows of self-possession.
—Jason Motlagh, Rolling Stone, 27 Apr. 2025
Williams nails the paradox at the center of the show: As Molly’s body grows weaker, her self-possession grows stronger.
—Margaret Lyons, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
The next step in our self-possession culture is not just dropping ourselves into the story but painting it in the hues of the great artists who came before.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 1 Apr. 2025
Her self-possession is at points a touch disconcerting; breaking eye contact is not her style.
—Funmi Fetto, Vogue, 25 Feb. 2025
Mulligan brings luminous self-possession to her supporting role, which recalls her appearance as another folk singer in the Coens’ instant classic Inside Llewyn Davis.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Feb. 2025
The executive editor grabbed a copy of the newspaper, which was folded on his desk, opened it, saw, understood (or pretended to understand), felt the briefest moment of embarrassment—a matter of a split second—wonderfully regained his self-possession, and coughed.
—Dino Buzzati, Harper's Magazine, 2 Dec. 2024
This exhibition will explore concepts that define Black dandyism specifically and uncover elements of productive tension that appear when considering the figure—such as ownership, authority and self-possession, ease, exaggeration, freedom, transgression, dissonance, and spectacularity.
—News Desk, Artforum, 10 Oct. 2024
James Meyer, Artforum, 1 May 2025
With a powerful high that wears off in less than an hour, some addicts are compelled to use upwards of 20 to 30 times a day, leaving fleeting windows of self-possession.
—Jason Motlagh, Rolling Stone, 27 Apr. 2025
Williams nails the paradox at the center of the show: As Molly’s body grows weaker, her self-possession grows stronger.
—Margaret Lyons, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
The next step in our self-possession culture is not just dropping ourselves into the story but painting it in the hues of the great artists who came before.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 1 Apr. 2025
Her self-possession is at points a touch disconcerting; breaking eye contact is not her style.
—Funmi Fetto, Vogue, 25 Feb. 2025
Mulligan brings luminous self-possession to her supporting role, which recalls her appearance as another folk singer in the Coens’ instant classic Inside Llewyn Davis.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Feb. 2025
The executive editor grabbed a copy of the newspaper, which was folded on his desk, opened it, saw, understood (or pretended to understand), felt the briefest moment of embarrassment—a matter of a split second—wonderfully regained his self-possession, and coughed.
—Dino Buzzati, Harper's Magazine, 2 Dec. 2024
This exhibition will explore concepts that define Black dandyism specifically and uncover elements of productive tension that appear when considering the figure—such as ownership, authority and self-possession, ease, exaggeration, freedom, transgression, dissonance, and spectacularity.
—News Desk, Artforum, 10 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-possession
Noun
-
Maintaining its strong Eastern Conference standing will require a level of finishing and composure that was noticeably absent Saturday night.—
Colin Cerniglia,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Apr. 2025
-
After the one-two punch (or burning, or stabbing) of the siege on Jackson and Joel’s murder, a more sedate, transitional episode lets the characters regain their composure as much as the viewers.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
27 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The holding was manifestly correct, but the dicta may be equally important in counseling greater restraint on both sides.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Apr. 2025
-
After three consecutive trips to the Stanley Cup Final from 2020-22, the combination of age and salary-cap restraints had diminished the Tampa Bay roster.—
John Romano,
The Orlando Sentinel,
19 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-possession.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-possession. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
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