composed 1 of 2

composed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of compose
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2
as in comprised
to be all the substance of the earth's crust is composed of mostly silicon with several other elements in smaller amounts

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word composed different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of composed are collected, cool, imperturbable, nonchalant, and unruffled. While all these words mean "free from agitation or excitement," composed implies freedom from agitation as a result of self-discipline or a sedate disposition.

the composed pianist gave a flawless concert

Where would collected be a reasonable alternative to composed?

Although the words collected and composed have much in common, collected implies a concentration of mind that eliminates distractions especially in moments of crisis.

the nurse stayed calm and collected

When might cool be a better fit than composed?

While the synonyms cool and composed are close in meaning, cool may imply calmness, deliberateness, or dispassionateness.

kept a cool head

In what contexts can imperturbable take the place of composed?

The words imperturbable and composed are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, imperturbable implies coolness or assurance even under severe provocation.

the speaker remained imperturbable despite the heckling

When can nonchalant be used instead of composed?

The meanings of nonchalant and composed largely overlap; however, nonchalant stresses an easy coolness of manner or casualness that suggests indifference or unconcern.

a nonchalant driver

When is unruffled a more appropriate choice than composed?

In some situations, the words unruffled and composed are roughly equivalent. However, unruffled suggests apparent serenity and poise in the face of setbacks or in the midst of excitement.

harried but unruffled

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of composed
Adjective
Stay composed and resilient with empathy, which should help ease tension in the room. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2024 In a star-making performance, Pierre is terrific as a man with a particular skill set thrumming below his composed, placid surface. Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2024
Verb
Prince William joined in the festive spirit by helping to distribute gifts to children from under the Christmas tree before enjoying a lively performance by a Fijian choir composed of soldiers from the Mercian Regiment. Simon Perry, People.com, 10 Dec. 2024 Han dynasty armor was composed from a single-material. Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 9 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for composed 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for composed
Adjective
  • Furthermore, the court found that the act burdens businesses with significant compliance costs—projected to exceed $22 billion in the first year alone—without clear safeguards against misuse of collected data.
    Matthew F. Erskine, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024
  • Available at 40% off for Cyber Monday, this robot can vacuum and mop your floors, and its base station will automatically suck out all the collected dirt, wash the mops, dry them, and refill the water tank, delivering a truly hands-free experience.
    PCMAG, PCMAG, 2 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Plenty of our Actors on Actors subjects did their homework this time around — but Selena Gomez may win the prize for most prepared.
    Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Before deciding to play this game, ensure that your company is not only prepared to compete but is also equipped to be a valuable player in the investor’s portfolio.
    Cody Slach, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Subscribers in that tier jumped 35% for the quarter and comprised 50% of new sign-ups.
    Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2024
  • African American students comprised 8% of the student body in 2022, according to data the school provided to the education research site Niche.
    Ben Poston, Los Angeles Times, 18 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • During our interview, Hyman and I talked through my test results, which calmed my anxiety.
    Angela Haupt, TIME, 4 Dec. 2024
  • Things calmed down in the third quarter, but UConn gained the edge in field position and scored the go-ahead touchdown after taking over at midfield.
    Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 1 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The Franklin fire had extended to nearly 4,000 acres and was just 7% contained Wednesday morning, according to Cal Fire.
    Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Several details appear to link the profile to Mangione, and a 2016 post contained a link to a page on Github, a coding website, with Mangione's full name on it.
    Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • The show’s continuing appeal hinges largely on Guralnik; her calm demeanor and sharp analytical framing guide the participants (and the audience) toward astute insights about their relationship patterns.
    Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2024
  • Children who used to be violent have become calmer, and violence against children has significantly decreased.
    Sarah Ferguson, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Aside from donations, which constituted the lion’s share of its earnings, the collective reported generating $595,486 in sponsorship fees.
    Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 10 Dec. 2024
  • In August, the WHO Director-General declared that mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) in the region constituted a public health emergency of international concern.
    Dave Wessner, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Conversation lulled; the music seemed louder.
    Lauren Groff, The New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2024
  • My therapist’s pressure on my body was smooth, deliberate, and sweeping, like cursive notes that lulled me into deep meditation.
    Maria Yagoda, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near composed

Cite this Entry

“Composed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/composed. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on composed

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