1
as in hands
the fact or state of having (something) at one's disposal
a student who was found to have several overdue library books in his possession
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in belongings
possessions plural
transportable items that one owns
we packed up all of our possessions and excitedly moved into a new house
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in occupancy
the act or fact of residing in a place
squatters had established possession in the abandoned warehouse
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of possession
Minnesota scored on roughly two-thirds of its possessions over the last 18 minutes.
—
Troy Renck, Denver Post, 26 Apr. 2026
Despite owning a majority of possession time, SDFC is struggling to convert into goals.
—Ryan Finley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, Khanna worked with the gadfly Republican congressman Thomas Massie on a bill that would force Trump’s second-term Justice Department to make public all the Epstein documents in its possession, with minimal redactions.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026
In 2018, the state legislature passed a law that outlawed the possession and sale of bump stocks, along with trigger cranks and devices that make the gun operate like an automatic weapon.
—Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for possession
Troy Renck, Denver Post, 26 Apr. 2026
Despite owning a majority of possession time, SDFC is struggling to convert into goals.
—Ryan Finley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, Khanna worked with the gadfly Republican congressman Thomas Massie on a bill that would force Trump’s second-term Justice Department to make public all the Epstein documents in its possession, with minimal redactions.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026
In 2018, the state legislature passed a law that outlawed the possession and sale of bump stocks, along with trigger cranks and devices that make the gun operate like an automatic weapon.
—Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for possession
Recent Examples of Synonyms for possession
Noun
-
Holding a clutch with one or both hands also provides a polite, socially acceptable reason not to shake every hand within reach.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
After their Champions League quarter-final exit at the hands of Atletico Madrid — a title which had been the squad’s main objective — all that is left for Flick’s side now is to seemingly wait to be crowned champions of Spain for a second year in a row.—
Laia Cervelló Herrero,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Casias, 53, was last seen walking on a highway near Talpa, New Mexico, in June 2025, according to New Mexico State Police, leaving her belongings at home and a phone that had been factory-reset, NBC News reported.—
Natasha Chen,
CNN Money,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Among the gunman’s belongings was a photo modified by artificial intelligence showing him alongside the Columbine attackers, according to a state official who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to address the media.—
Maria Verza,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In November 2016, Arlington voters approved the extension of a half-cent sales tax, as well as a 2 percent hotel occupancy tax and 5 percent car rental tax, to help the Rangers build a new, retractable-roof stadium, which opened in 2020.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Major soundstages recorded a 62 percent occupancy rate during the first six months of 2025, down one percent from anemic levels recorded in 2024, according to data released from local film office FilmLA in March.—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
For Selva, that information only enhances the enjoyment of a purchase.—
Laurie Brookins,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Apr. 2026
-
My enjoyment was always hampered by trying to manipulate and enlarge the grid.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Confirm timing, assign ownership, and keep things clear.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
22 Apr. 2026
-
But things got wild when the robot started break dancing and bashing itself into a million robotic pieces.—
Matt Reigle OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
She/her What is your occupation?—
Bon Appétit,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Many in Lebanon fear a return to Israel’s 1982-2000 occupation of the south, which ended after years of deadly Hezbollah attacks on Israeli troops.—
Sam Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
No, that stuff is all incredible and very much the result of good fortune in my career.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
-
To hell with all that superstitious stuff.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Though it was rebuilt after the 1693 earthquake, the church was originally founded during the town's Norman period and constructed atop far older habitation.—
Erica Firpo,
Travel + Leisure,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Release the groundhog 10 to 20 miles away from human habitation.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Possession.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/possession. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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