as in owning
to keep, control, or experience as one's own
she possesses a keen insight into people
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Recent Examples of possessing
If convicted, Taras faces up to 15 years in federal prison for each count of illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition and up to five years for possessing a gun within 1,000 feet of a school.
—
Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 31 Jan. 2026
Emiliano Garduño Gálvez, 23, pleaded guilty in October to one count each of possessing an unregistered destructive device and obstructing law enforcement during a civil disorder.
—Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2026
Those charges include providing fraudulent identification to police and possessing an unlicensed firearm.
—Connor Greene, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
Rubio and Alexis Andrade are also charged with possessing handguns as part of their drug trafficking operation.
—Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
Bayhan, 58, pleaded guilty last year to possessing the material.
—Kevin Grasha, Cincinnati Enquirer, 29 Jan. 2026
Those prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal or state law include those with a felony conviction, anyone convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence or anyone subject to a domestic violence protective order.
—Paul Kiefer, jsonline.com, 28 Jan. 2026
At the time, he was legally prohibited from possessing guns due to a prior felony stalking conviction in Los Angeles Superior Court in 2017.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 28 Jan. 2026
He was released in December of that year after a judge ordered him to undergo mental health treatment, prohibited him from possessing firearms, and barred him from contacting the victims.
—Nicole Acosta, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026
Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 31 Jan. 2026
Emiliano Garduño Gálvez, 23, pleaded guilty in October to one count each of possessing an unregistered destructive device and obstructing law enforcement during a civil disorder.
—Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2026
Those charges include providing fraudulent identification to police and possessing an unlicensed firearm.
—Connor Greene, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
Rubio and Alexis Andrade are also charged with possessing handguns as part of their drug trafficking operation.
—Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
Bayhan, 58, pleaded guilty last year to possessing the material.
—Kevin Grasha, Cincinnati Enquirer, 29 Jan. 2026
Those prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal or state law include those with a felony conviction, anyone convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence or anyone subject to a domestic violence protective order.
—Paul Kiefer, jsonline.com, 28 Jan. 2026
At the time, he was legally prohibited from possessing guns due to a prior felony stalking conviction in Los Angeles Superior Court in 2017.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 28 Jan. 2026
He was released in December of that year after a judge ordered him to undergo mental health treatment, prohibited him from possessing firearms, and barred him from contacting the victims.
—Nicole Acosta, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for possessing
Verb
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The Jazz have fared worse this season, owning a brutal 15-35 record after losing their sixth straight game on Sunday night.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
3 Feb. 2026
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But maybe there’s a gap for younger women owning an LNS.—
Julianna Chen,
Dallas Morning News,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Boxer Imane Khelif admitted to having the SRY gene, located on the Y chromosome, which is found in biological males, and undergoing hormone treatments to lower testosterone levels ahead of the 2024 Olympics in an interview with the French sports publication L'Equipe.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
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Angela Craig, the mother of his six children, was hospitalized on March 15, 2023, and died three days later after having a severe seizure.—
Minyvonne Burke,
NBC news,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Today, only 24% of organizations report issues with attracting or retaining employees, down from 36% last year, 45% from 2024 and 53% from 2023.—
John M. Bremen,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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Candidates largely agree on recruitment, ICE Most of the candidates said that retaining and recruiting staff at the sheriff’s office, a challenge for years, will come down to who is in charge.—
Ryan Oehrli,
Charlotte Observer,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Raina and her clumber spaniel, Pancake, arrived in New York via indirect flights and had been enjoying taking in the city.—
Leigh Nordstrom,
Footwear News,
4 Feb. 2026
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Before the attack, Williams had been enjoying all the joys of motherhood.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Possessing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/possessing. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
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