Definition of possessivenext
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 Instead, Nikki’s love spirals into something violent, possessive and terrifying. Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2026 Over the course of Obsession's 108-minute runtime, Nikki transforms into an self-destructive, possessive, and dangerously violent shadow of her former self as Bear's spell forces her to fixate solely on her unnatural devotion to him—no matter the cost. Megan McCluskey, Time, 15 May 2026 Friends and family members also told investigators that Shirilla and Russo’s relationship had become strained in the months before the crash, marked by arguments and breakups, with some describing Shirilla as possessive in the relationship. Nicole Acosta, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026 But needy, possessive Nikki goes on to smother Bear and what plays out is a horrifying tale of obsessive love gone wrong — sour, curdled and violent. Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for possessive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for possessive
jealous
Adjective
  • Panthea then gets angry at Karen, saying that Karen is jealous of her and her relationship with her husband.
    Brian Moylan, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Jodie is jealous of my friendship with these siblings and is trying to sabotage it by doing background checks on them to reveal any sordid thing that has happened to them or their kids.
    R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Possessive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/possessive. Accessed 12 Aug. 2026.

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