as in composed
free from emotional or mental agitation
remarkably poised and possessed in the midst of all the turmoil
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in owned
to keep, control, or experience as one's own
she possesses a keen insight into people
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 possessed
Charlotte Observer, 11 Sep. 2025
As possessed people speak in foreign tongues and violence rises, Ahmed fears regaining memory, while the disciple fears his master’s decline may unleash an ancient evil.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025
Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 1 Feb. 2026
During the execution of the search warrants, officers also allegedly discovered more than 2,000 prescription pills that were illegally possessed.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for possessed
Adjective
The Nun pops out of a wall, a demon appears on a bed, crosses start to spin, a possessed figure scampers across the ceiling and a man with an axe cornered me in a random closet.
—Charlotte Observer, 11 Sep. 2025
As possessed people speak in foreign tongues and violence rises, Ahmed fears regaining memory, while the disciple fears his master’s decline may unleash an ancient evil.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025
Verb
The Dodge Charger allegedly possessed multiple VINs and the motor was traced back to a vehicle stolen out of North Carolina, the outlet reported.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 1 Feb. 2026
During the execution of the search warrants, officers also allegedly discovered more than 2,000 prescription pills that were illegally possessed.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for possessed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for possessed
Adjective
-
Comfortable Ride: Adaptive dynamics with the optional air suspension provides a smooth and composed ride, even on rough roads and off road trails.—
Tony Leopardo,
Mercury News,
1 Feb. 2026
-
When the center returned to Minnesota, Finch saw a player who was more composed and sure of how to use his boundless energy within the context of the game.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The same family owned the drawing for more than 200 years, after Armand Francois Louis de Mestral de Saint-Saphorin — a Swiss diplomat working for the King of Denmark — acquired it during his travels around Europe in the 18th century.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
-
The bridge eventually gained a reputation for being the victim of periodic vehicle strikes, frequent enough that a local merchant who owned a store nearby kept buckets of paint and some repair supplies handy at the back of his shop.—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
To address this, the Statista R research team employed triangulation, combining secondary data from global sources and national datasets with primary data from university reports and data submissions to verify collected information.—
TIME Staff,
Time,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The collected data is sent to an app via Bluetooth, where it can be used to provide information on hormonal cycles and anxiety levels.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Princess Mette-Marit Epstein had dozens of email exchanges with Mette-Marit, the Crown Princess of Norway, as recently as 2014.—
Erin Mansfield,
USA Today,
4 Feb. 2026
-
The 83-year-old senator has had multiple health issues over the past few years, including publicly freezing during a press conference in 2023 and falling ahead of a Senate vote in October 2025.—
Lillian Metzmeier,
Louisville Courier Journal,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
But Vonn, whose injury history is almost as long as her résumé, looked calm during training, coach Aksel Lund Svindal said Saturday.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
-
In court, Mickey grasps at straws, trying to clear his name, and in jail, the usually calm, cool and collected attorney is struggling to stay sane.—
Pamela Avila,
USA Today,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The university subsequently retained the law firm Perkins Coie to conduct an independent investigation.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Data is collected deliberately, retained indefinitely, enriched with other datasets and analyzed by increasingly powerful AI systems.—
Tony Bradley,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
For glam, Union’s pixie cut hairdo was coiffed with a modern touch, and her makeup included clean, serene details like bold brows, lightly lined eyes and a neutral lip.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
5 Feb. 2026
-
At L'Auberge de Sedona's serene spa, options include alternative treatments like chakra-balancing massages and Reiki, as well as body scrubs to make dry skin glow.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
To that point, much of Tucker’s case against MSU could turn on how much discretion the school enjoyed in its decision-making.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Some of the sensory tools in our bins that my daughter especially enjoyed are poppers, slug fidgets, pushpeel sensory boards, and an expanding breathing ball.—
Sara Rowe Mount,
Parents,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Possessed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/possessed. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
