POSSESSIVENESS Synonyms: 55 Similar and Opposite Words

possessiveness

noun

as in materialism

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Recent Examples of possessiveness Irina’s hunger and possessiveness both escalate, leading to the (offscreen) murders of anyone who gets in the way — of her parenting, or a meal. — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 30 July 2026 This can trigger jealousy, possessiveness, taboo-like attractions, emotional ultimatums, social power plays or money issues that reveal deeper conflicts. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 17 June 2026 Ménochet is a scary wonder as Marc, a great bear of a man who is chillingly adept at hiding his rage and possessiveness under the guise of a gentle, enlightened ascetic. — Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026 Guilt, jealousy or over-possessiveness might take hold of you. — Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026 Carmen grows tired of Don José’s possessiveness and returns to Seville alone to reunite with her lover Escamillo, the bullfighter. — Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for possessiveness

Noun

The artist’s body of work includes jabs at consumerism, materialism, logomania and high-low dressing.

— Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2026
But Veda is no idealist out to end wars or reject her parents’ materialism.

— Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026

Definition of materialism

Noun

Many critics of such wanton cosmic acquisitiveness balk at the idea of scarcely regulated private-sector lunar strip-mining.

— Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 14 May 2026
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

Definition of acquisitiveness

Noun

If the act is a cruel and unjust law, stealing from working Americans in order to feed the insatiable greed of the billionaire class, what can can average Americans do about it?

— Dr. Michael Good, Hartford Courant, 28 Sep. 2026
In politics—according to Berman and, by extension, Longwell—the most convincing arguments play to love, sympathy, greed, fear, and anger.

— Isaac Arnsdorf, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of greed

Noun

The billions from the public treasury have resulted in profits beyond the dreams of avarice.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026
Wolfe’s The Bonfire of the Vanities explores greed, avarice and racial divisions between the haves and have nots in 1980s New York City.

— Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of avarice

Noun

As another city on the margins of America, a place caught between commercialism and conceptualism, there are perhaps few artists better suited to Miami than Baldessari.

— Douglas Markowitz, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2026
For those weary of the overt commercialism surrounding those glitzy showpieces, the GAA provides a refreshing antidote.

— Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 27 July 2026

Definition of commercialism

Noun

Sudan’s civil war, a conflict credibly described as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, has seen violence matched only by the belligerents’ rapacity in pillaging the country’s riches.

— Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
This variation of socialism aimed to blunt the rapacity of capitalism rather than sharpen its contradictions and hasten the coming revolution.

— Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 6 July 2026

Definition of rapacity

Noun

And yet his movie is mischievously multi-layered enough that the idea of covetousness does open up heady new seams of interpretation.

— Jessica Kiang, Variety, 6 Sep. 2026
Simple fasting from food can be ruined — rendered not pleasing to Allah — if spoiled by telling lies, slander, denouncing someone behind his back, swearing a false oath, greed or covetousness.

— The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 17 Feb. 2026

Definition of covetousness

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possessiveness

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“Possessiveness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/possessiveness. Accessed 1 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of possessiveness

noun

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