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

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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 Lepkowski described her cousin's ex as possessive, controlling and physically abusive. Nushrat Rahman, Freep.com, 9 Sep. 2025 Taurus: Food, fashion and parties Materialistic, possessive and undeniably stylish, Taurus knows the finer things in life are meant to be savored. Valerie Mesa, People.com, 21 Aug. 2025 But to Newsom, the team’s choices to take part in the community and the circumstances of its arrival have also stoked a loyalty that has kept the region exceptionally possessive of its team. Andrew Greif, NBC news, 19 June 2025 In parallel, Trump put the European Union in the crosshairs of his on-again, off-again trade war, while his possessive rhetoric regarding Canada and Greenland has stoked outrage and alarm across the alliance. Joel Gehrke, The Washington Examiner, 13 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for possessive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for possessive
jealous
Adjective
  • Witnesses told police that Houston was controlling, jealous and had a history of domestic violence, court documents said.
    Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 18 Oct. 2025
  • The two must figure out how to cultivate their blossoming relationship while staving off the suspicions of a jealous colleague.
    Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 17 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Possessive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/possessive. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

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