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
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
In a career spanning nearly seven decades, Smith established herself as one of the most towering and beloved British actors of her generation, revered for her witty line deliveries and self-possession.
—Daniel Arkin, NBC News, 27 Sep. 2024
Not his legal education, borne of degrees from Yale and Oxford, nor his Chinese and English silver tongue, but the self-possession, drive, and track record to stand strong enough to be his authentic self.
—Alexandra Bregman, Forbes, 24 Sep. 2024
In contrast, Swinton is breathtakingly still, a woman who long ago made peace with death and welcomes it as her last act of self-possession.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 7 Sep. 2024
In the whole Mogao Caves area, only the icons of Buddha and bodhisattvas maintained their dignity and self-possession.
—Ian Johnson, The New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2024
Trump’s first wife is played by Maria Bakalova with savvy self-possession and what seems like full awareness of her husband’s negative attributes, plus a convenient ability to overlook them.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 May 2024
Doug said with a self-possession that caught Death Skull off guard.
—Simon Rich, The New Yorker, 6 May 2024
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
In a career spanning nearly seven decades, Smith established herself as one of the most towering and beloved British actors of her generation, revered for her witty line deliveries and self-possession.
—Daniel Arkin, NBC News, 27 Sep. 2024
Not his legal education, borne of degrees from Yale and Oxford, nor his Chinese and English silver tongue, but the self-possession, drive, and track record to stand strong enough to be his authentic self.
—Alexandra Bregman, Forbes, 24 Sep. 2024
In contrast, Swinton is breathtakingly still, a woman who long ago made peace with death and welcomes it as her last act of self-possession.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 7 Sep. 2024
In the whole Mogao Caves area, only the icons of Buddha and bodhisattvas maintained their dignity and self-possession.
—Ian Johnson, The New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2024
Trump’s first wife is played by Maria Bakalova with savvy self-possession and what seems like full awareness of her husband’s negative attributes, plus a convenient ability to overlook them.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 May 2024
Doug said with a self-possession that caught Death Skull off guard.
—Simon Rich, The New Yorker, 6 May 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Self-possession.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-possession. Accessed 10 Jan. 2025.
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