possessive

adjective

pə-ˈze-siv How to pronounce possessive (audio)
Definition of possessivenext
as in jealous
intolerant of rivalry or unfaithfulness he was very possessive of his girlfriend's attention, and it was really starting to annoy her

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example 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 possessive One of her sisters, Sierra Francis, was especially horrified by Miller’s possessive nature. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 2026 But needy, possessive Nikki smothers Bear, and what plays out is a horrifying tale of obsessive love gone wrong — sour, curdled and violent. — Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 23 May 2026 Before too long, however, the romantic spell Nikki is under turns into possessive, obsessive and eventually, deadly behavior, which quickly spirals out of control. — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026 Overall, the series toned down Garrett’s possessive, over-protective tendencies while keeping true to his Big Man on Campus/hockey dynasty character. — Jennifer McClellan, USA Today, 17 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for possessive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for possessive
jealous
Adjective
  • But Sondheim is a jealous God, or at least his acolytes are even more easily enraged than acolytes usually are.
    — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Geographically restless and lonely people everywhere are jealous!
    — Shayla Love, Vox, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of jealous

Browse Nearby Words

possessions
possessive
possessiveness
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Cite this Entry

“Possessive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/possessive. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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