self-possessed

American  

[self-puh-zest, self-] / ˈsɛlf pəˈzɛst, ˌsɛlf- /

adjective

1. having or showing control of one's feelings, behavior, etc.; composed; poised.

   Synonyms:

   sedate, cool, serene, collected, calm

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self-possessed British  

adjective

1. having control of one's emotions, etc

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Other Word Forms

• self-possessedly adverb
• self-possession noun
• unself-possessed adjective

Etymology

Origin of self-possessed

First recorded in 1760–70

Explanation

If you're self-possessed, you always seem to be calm and confident. It's easier to be successful as a substitute teacher if you're self-possessed than if you're nervous and uncertain. Someone who's particularly poised can be described as self-possessed. It's a hard quality to fake, but a worthwhile one to aspire to; other people tend to take you more seriously if you're self-possessed. The adjective self-possessed and noun self-possession first appeared in English around 1740, with the sense of "(in) command of one's emotions."

Example Sentences

Roy herself appears as Radha, sharp and self-possessed.

From BBC • Feb. 13, 2026

An even more welcome addition to our already bulging shelves is the belated arrival of a largely complete studio discography of Britain’s greatest conductor, and certainly its most self-possessed: the musical grandee Sir Thomas Beecham.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 23, 2025

She’s become someone just as cruel, self-possessed and inconsiderate as Marion.

From Salon • Mar. 2, 2025

Immaculately groomed and entirely self-possessed, Siobhan bestrides the world of public relations like an expertly contoured colossus.

From New York Times • Sep. 21, 2023

Pearl did not realize, nor would she for a while yet, how unusually self-possessed her mother was for someone her age, how savvy and seasoned.

From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng