1
as in preparing
to put (something) into proper and usually carefully worked out written form
composed a statement on this hot-button issue that managed to satisfy absolutely no one
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in comprising
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
3
as in soothing
to free from distress or disturbance
the first order of business was to compose the injured pedestrian
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in containing
to gain emotional or mental control of
she took a deep breath and composed herself
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of composing
The songs are by composing legend Mike Stoller, now 93, and a master tunesmith during the era in which much of the story spans.
—
Frank Rizzo, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026
The track has been newly mixed and mastered and features Prince producing, arranging, composing and performing all instrumentation.
—Wcco Staff, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
Why, Fredriksen has asked, would writers of the mid-second century, composing pseudonymous letters in the voice of a first-century figure, include statements predicting Christ’s imminent return?
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
Seeing something on the moon, describing it, and composing a photograph from a very close distance is a different experience from viewing something from afar, or even seeing a close-up captured by a robotic camera.
—Rebecca Boyle, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
The cassette was also a form of personal expression for music fans, too, where planning and composing a perfect mix tape – 45 minutes each side if possible – and drawing cover art was a time-consuming but rewarding pursuit.
—New Atlas, 9 Apr. 2026
The study—drawing from more than 41 million shifts and 268 million hours worked—finds Gen Z is leading the way in poly-employment, composing more than half (55%) of those engaged in the practice.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2026
Badauni served at Akbar’s court while composing a work deeply hostile to his patron; the text could only be privately circulated to a limited audience during Akbar’s lifetime and remained suppressed until after Jahangir’s accession in 1605.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Apr. 2026
Ciani’s method with the Buchla is a way of taming electrical currents and shaping them into pathways, rather than composing music traditionally.
—Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 9 Apr. 2026
Frank Rizzo, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026
The track has been newly mixed and mastered and features Prince producing, arranging, composing and performing all instrumentation.
—Wcco Staff, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
Why, Fredriksen has asked, would writers of the mid-second century, composing pseudonymous letters in the voice of a first-century figure, include statements predicting Christ’s imminent return?
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
Seeing something on the moon, describing it, and composing a photograph from a very close distance is a different experience from viewing something from afar, or even seeing a close-up captured by a robotic camera.
—Rebecca Boyle, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
The cassette was also a form of personal expression for music fans, too, where planning and composing a perfect mix tape – 45 minutes each side if possible – and drawing cover art was a time-consuming but rewarding pursuit.
—New Atlas, 9 Apr. 2026
The study—drawing from more than 41 million shifts and 268 million hours worked—finds Gen Z is leading the way in poly-employment, composing more than half (55%) of those engaged in the practice.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2026
Badauni served at Akbar’s court while composing a work deeply hostile to his patron; the text could only be privately circulated to a limited audience during Akbar’s lifetime and remained suppressed until after Jahangir’s accession in 1605.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Apr. 2026
Ciani’s method with the Buchla is a way of taming electrical currents and shaping them into pathways, rather than composing music traditionally.
—Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 9 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for composing
Verb
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The two were caught on camera by fellow passengers who were filming while the plane was on the runway preparing for takeoff.—
Sean Joseph OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
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The British Embassy in Washington, DC, posted a video on social media on April 27 giving people a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into preparing afternoon tea for 650 people.—
Gabe Hauari,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Biennale contemporary art exhibition is the world's oldest and most important, comprising a main exhibition alongside national pavilions, which are curated separately by the participating nations.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Apr. 2026
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As of late February, the review found that the Justice Department has taken down more than 47,000 files comprising about 65,500 pages.—
Jacob Rosen,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Diaper rash cream, chocolate brown baby booties and throat-soothing lollipops littered the hotel bed.—
Madeline Mitchell,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
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There’s truly nothing better than the scent of fresh laundry and soothing lavender!—
Katie Decker-Jacoby,
StyleCaster,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Leaving Italy for Paris, Jarmusch said the Italian equivalent of TSA had asked him what was in the box containing his Golden Lion.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
30 Apr. 2026
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Ceasar Mitchell, an attorney representing KMT, told the DAFC board that Council member Linda Pritchett, who represents the district containing the Project Mapco site, wrote a letter in support of the tax break.—
Zachary Hansen,
AJC.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Sullivan said the discussion for drafting a quarterback came up several times among their 13 picks from Thursday through Saturday, but the other option always won out in every instance.—
David Furones,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Apr. 2026
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In the second and third rounds Friday night, Chicago turned its sights to offense, drafting three other players.—
Grace Miserocchi,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Some even suggested galaxies could still be chock-full of gas but somehow not forming stars, which would be a real head-scratcher for anyone trying to understand stellar nurseries.—
Paul Sutter,
Space.com,
25 Apr. 2026
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Potatoes planted in the garden a few months ago are forming potatoes underground and the plants are starting to decline.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Hug a Therapy Llama Therapy llamas and alpacas are calming fliers' nerves at this US airport.—
Hannah Wallace,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Apr. 2026
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Maybe that was a way of calming his nerves, but the upshot is to give him a disaffected air that’s almost Lou Reed adjacent.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The local representative of the national government, Eduardo Pacheco, escalated Casagrande’s request, writing to the Interior Ministry on May 19 to request an exception to carry out preventive burns, BioBíoChile reported.—
Stefano Pozzebon,
CNN Money,
26 Apr. 2026
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Demonstrating skills For years, roboticists have been working on getting robots to learn from demonstration—teaching them new skills by showing them what to do, rather than writing lines of code.—
Jacek Krywko,
ArsTechnica,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Composing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/composing. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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