as in owns
to keep, control, or experience as one's own
she possesses a keen insight into people
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Recent Examples of possesses
Warner possesses valuable European sports rights that would require government approvals to sell.
—
Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 10 Nov. 2025
The governor of New York possesses the authority, under the state constitution and the New York City Charter, to remove mayors and other local officials from office.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2025
The reactor also possesses a strong negative temperature coefficient, meaning the nuclear reaction naturally slows as temperatures rise, preventing a runaway event.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2025
Yorba Linda does not have the passing attack that Mission Viejo possesses.
—Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 5 Nov. 2025
Armstrong says the state possesses the resources to respond to the shortfall — but not the infrastructure.
—The Npr Network, NPR, 4 Nov. 2025
According to estimates by the Arms Control Association, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons and the Federation of American Scientists, Russia possesses the most nuclear weapons in the world.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2025
In his own secret lair, Vilgefortz learns from Istredd that Ciri possesses a the power to collapse space and time — not only for the Continent, but for other spheres of reality.
—Scott Meslow, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
While almost every living organism possesses an excretory system, most reptiles don’t eliminate excess nitrogen-containing waste in the form of liquid urine.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 22 Oct. 2025
Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 10 Nov. 2025
The governor of New York possesses the authority, under the state constitution and the New York City Charter, to remove mayors and other local officials from office.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2025
The reactor also possesses a strong negative temperature coefficient, meaning the nuclear reaction naturally slows as temperatures rise, preventing a runaway event.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2025
Yorba Linda does not have the passing attack that Mission Viejo possesses.
—Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 5 Nov. 2025
Armstrong says the state possesses the resources to respond to the shortfall — but not the infrastructure.
—The Npr Network, NPR, 4 Nov. 2025
According to estimates by the Arms Control Association, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons and the Federation of American Scientists, Russia possesses the most nuclear weapons in the world.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2025
In his own secret lair, Vilgefortz learns from Istredd that Ciri possesses a the power to collapse space and time — not only for the Continent, but for other spheres of reality.
—Scott Meslow, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
While almost every living organism possesses an excretory system, most reptiles don’t eliminate excess nitrogen-containing waste in the form of liquid urine.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 22 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for possesses
Verb
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The company also owns film distribution labels Independent Film Company and RLJE Films, and in-house studio AMC Studios.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
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Beyond his classic English country house, John also owns properties across Europe, including a summer house in Nice, France, and an apartment in Venice.—
Mekita Rivas,
Architectural Digest,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Technology is an ever-present disruptor that has a way of commoditizing what once felt unique, driving a kind of Moore’s law-like acceleration into every corner of our daily workflows.—
Phil Gilbert,
Fortune,
12 Nov. 2025
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According to the explanation on the museum’s website, the use of poppies has its origins in a poem that was penned by a Canadian physician who had served as a field surgeon in Belgium during the Great War.—
Emily Curiel,
Kansas City Star,
12 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The Free Press retains editorial control of this work.—
Beki San Martin,
Freep.com,
10 Nov. 2025
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The sponsor retains responsibility for the content and holds the copyright to their material.—
Rowan Briggs,
Mercury News,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Gilpin’s elder daughter enjoys watching her mom act, especially during playtime.—
Audrey Schmidt,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
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When asked why Stephen King enjoys such singular longevity in pop culture, both siblings pointed to some of the real-life horrors in the world around us as evidence that King has always been ahead of his time.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Possesses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/possesses. Accessed 18 Nov. 2025.
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