composed
Americanadjective
adjective
Synonym Usage
See calm.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of composed
Explanation
The adjective composed describes someone who is calm and shows no nervousness or agitation. You may be very upset about your brother’s unkind remark, but your composed face doesn’t give away your feelings. If you’re composed, that means you're free of emotion or nervousness — or at least you look that way. Composed typically describes an outward appearance, so you could be angry on the inside but still maintain a composed manner that hides what you’re really feeling. You’ll often hear the word used to describe someone who can keep everything under control during times of stress. You probably look composed even when you’re stressing out over your calculus exam.
Vocabulary lists containing composed
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
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Mellow Out: Synonyms for "Calm"
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Dragon Hoops
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The New York Times reported that the US family was composed of a couple, their son and his girlfriend.
From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026
The kernel of the drama—unfortunately kernel is probably the right term—is Frederick’s demand, or more gently put, his invitation, that Bach create a three-part fugue on a theme the king composed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026
Nicola is composed and reflective as she recalls when her son went missing.
From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026
Often, Navatek composed language that ended up, word for word, in Senate funding requests, former employees said.
From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2026
He was pale, pale and sweaty at the temples but perfectly composed.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
