as in materialism
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Recent Examples of possessiveness
There’s a touch of possessiveness that comes out when Eloise refers to Sophie as her lady’s maid.
—
Arushi Jacob, Variety, 31 Jan. 2026
In the film, Brack’s attraction to Hedda, investment in her material future, and his familiarity with her father are all underlined, and by the end feel like a mounting pressure of desire and possessiveness directed at her.
—Rory Doherty, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
Wright is magnetic, walking a fine line between maternal concern and suffocating possessiveness.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
There’s a certain irony in China’s possessiveness over its Labubu IP.
—Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2025
The possessiveness people have around these characters is so intense.
—EW.com, 22 Aug. 2025
But there’s a shiver of possessiveness in his bearing, something the filmmaker suggests through subtle means like a lingering glimpse of Pedro’s hand gripping Lina’s desk.
—Jon Frosch, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Arushi Jacob, Variety, 31 Jan. 2026
In the film, Brack’s attraction to Hedda, investment in her material future, and his familiarity with her father are all underlined, and by the end feel like a mounting pressure of desire and possessiveness directed at her.
—Rory Doherty, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
Wright is magnetic, walking a fine line between maternal concern and suffocating possessiveness.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
There’s a certain irony in China’s possessiveness over its Labubu IP.
—Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2025
The possessiveness people have around these characters is so intense.
—EW.com, 22 Aug. 2025
But there’s a shiver of possessiveness in his bearing, something the filmmaker suggests through subtle means like a lingering glimpse of Pedro’s hand gripping Lina’s desk.
—Jon Frosch, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for possessiveness
Noun
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The institution is a cultural first responder that documents the effects of materialism, conformity, and mechanization.—
Gioia Woods,
Literary Hub,
6 Feb. 2026
-
The book describes the transition of the fictional Grinch, who had focused on the misunderstanding of materialism but was transformed by love and holiday spirit into a helpful, caring being who became part of the community.—
Karie Angell Luc,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Following too closely in its protagonist’s footsteps, The Queen of Versailles presents only two options — tough but spiritually fulfilling material deprivation or unconstrained acquisitiveness.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The dazzling works of Fra Angelico both testify to the immense wealth and power of fourteenth-century Florentine society and attempt to heal its pride, greed, and brutal inequality.—
Ingrid D. Rowland,
The New York Review of Books,
5 Feb. 2026
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The once-compassionate Democratic Party used to mobilize government for the downtrodden and check crony capitalism’s greed.—
Torrey Snow,
Baltimore Sun,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In a world where most sports have a shady underbelly and the fixes often are in one way or another, no one is ever going to tell you that boxing of all competitions is an avarice or sticky-fingers-free zone.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
3 Feb. 2026
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But the damage this episode of Europe-bashing and open colonial avarice has done is real and enduring.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
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These firms now pay their rainmakers like Wall Street stars and have dropped their courtly scruples for relentless commercialism.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
5 Feb. 2026
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Ironically, the film was about the dangers of commercialism, and the director reportedly added a long bedroom scene near the beginning displaying the actress’ nude backside to appease producers’ demands for more flesh.—
Lee Smith,
CNN Money,
28 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
People in the comments shared in the woman’s frustration, agreeing that her mother's greediness needs to be addressed.—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
5 Oct. 2025
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When kids didn’t withdraw, it was sometimes seen as greediness.—
Mary Frances Ruskell,
CNN Money,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Trump’s entire doctrine is naked rapacity, from Venezuela to hijacking the Kennedy Center to hideously remaking the White House in his own gaudy image.—
Maureen Dowd,
Mercury News,
21 Jan. 2026
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In recent books, French has borrowed elements of the western genre to explore corporate rapacity in the era of climate change and looked at life in a small Irish village with the ear to both insider and outsider.—
Marc Weingarten,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Whether through invasion, subversion, or transaction, the stories of new conquests are always lit by moments of deviltry, cupidity, violence, and farce.—
Washington Post,
Washington Post,
27 Jan. 2026
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Sarah Wynn-Williams’s damning memoir of working at Facebook exposes the predatory cupidity of the company’s executives.—
Rachel Nolan,
The New York Review of Books,
9 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Possessiveness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/possessiveness. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
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