as in materialism
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Recent Examples of possessiveness
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
Shot in Scope, filled with intimate closeups of the couple, the film lets the audience experience the same upsetting jolt as Gil over Jacques’ desire for control and toxic possessiveness.
—Alissa Simon, Variety, 16 May 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
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 17 June 2026
Shot in Scope, filled with intimate closeups of the couple, the film lets the audience experience the same upsetting jolt as Gil over Jacques’ desire for control and toxic possessiveness.
—Alissa Simon, Variety, 16 May 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
-
This is a guy who could write these incredibly bigoted figures, and then also write this really searing indictment of American materialism.—
Elisabeth Garber-Paul,
Rolling Stone,
19 Apr. 2026
-
The book is a Christian parable, pitting faith against 20th-century materialism.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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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
Noun
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The Australian psych-rock band’s latest features dense, detailed songwriting about corporate greed and the environment, but the music lacks its nuance and ambition.—
Cassidy Sollazzo,
Pitchfork,
19 June 2026
-
There’s a lot that feels timely about greed versus governance and myths and propaganda.—
Stuart Miller,
Oc Register,
17 June 2026
Noun
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And the forces that contributed to their demise — avarice, ignorance and a lack of imagination — are ascendant, illustrated by plans for a five-story Rolex shop on Las Olas and the Gekko district being built in downtown West Palm Beach.—
Ben Crandell,
Sun Sentinel,
3 June 2026
-
These morality tales, focusing on figures like Michael Milken and Ivan Boesky, make an implicit claim that individual avarice somehow explains the excesses of an entire era.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
For him, the holiday is about commercialism, but honoring the people who paved the way.—
La'Tasha Givens,
CBS News,
20 June 2026
-
Just look at the commercialism surrounding Christmas and Easter.—
Jennifer Rosen Heinz,
Parents,
17 June 2026
Noun
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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
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The French—and, later, Anglo (Wilde, Beardsley, Rossetti)—attitude, mannered and morbid, was perhaps too Old World, at odds with our cheerful, Protestant rapacity.—
Olivia Kan-Sperling,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
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Unlike the specialized literary magazine and its informal cousin, the literary blog, the general-interest newspaper has a kind of noble rapacity, an encyclopedic ambition to wrap its arms around the whole of the world.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Possessiveness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/possessiveness. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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