as in composed
free from emotional or mental agitation
remarkably poised and possessed in the midst of all the turmoil
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in owned
to keep, control, or experience as one's own
she possesses a keen insight into people
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 possessed
Charlotte Observer, 11 Sep. 2025
As possessed people speak in foreign tongues and violence rises, Ahmed fears regaining memory, while the disciple fears his master’s decline may unleash an ancient evil.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025
Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2026
Tech struggled to stay on the field, as Oregon possessed the ball for over 21 minutes of the first half.
—Lia Assimakopoulos
dallas Stars, Dallas Morning News, 1 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for possessed
Adjective
The Nun pops out of a wall, a demon appears on a bed, crosses start to spin, a possessed figure scampers across the ceiling and a man with an axe cornered me in a random closet.
—Verb
The teaser promises crop circles, spooky animals, Colin Firth sporting a beard, government agents (no doubt hiding something) and Emily Blunt possessed by some kind of alien intelligence.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for possessed
Adjective
-
More aggressive than the Tide, more physical, more composed and clearly better prepared, the Hoosiers showed zero rust after a month-long break after the Big Ten championship game.—
-
But Peggy never forgot her roots; a genre-blending selector with range, she’s known for her energetic but composed sets.—
Verb
-
The diamond is currently owned by descendants of the Austro-Hungarian royal family, who have finally come forward to share their family secret and reveal how the jewel made it out of Europe.—
-
The previous owner was only interested in selling to a family business, and unfortunately for Château D’Issan partner and general manager Emmanuel Cruse, both neighboring wineries are family-owned as well.—
Adjective
-
After more than six months of study, Tianwen-2 will leave the asteroid and drop the collected sample down to Earth before heading off to investigate 311P/PanSTARRS, a complicated celestial object that’s part asteroid and part comet.—
-
However, these days, a more collected look is preferred.—
Verb
-
Ewing never married or had children, but is survived by other family members, per Extra.—
-
The news and editorial staffs of the Orange County Register had no role in this post’s preparation.—
Adjective
-
Iranian state television on Sunday morning took a page from demonstrators, having their correspondents appear on streets in several cities to show calm areas with a date stamp shown on screen.—
-
His brands, including Juicy Fruit and Spearmint, promoted gum as a way to calm nerves, curb hunger and stay focused.—
Verb
-
America’s public health report card is in, and New Hampshire has retained its crown as the country’s healthiest state.—
-
Dubai retained its clear lead among Gulf real estate markets last year, with buyers spending 541 billion dirhams ($147 billion) on residential property in the emirate in 2025, some 27% more than the year before.—
Adjective
-
Opposite a serene Rooney Mara and a raging Claire Foy, Buckley is a lone dissenting voice in Sarah Polley’s heart-wrenching portrait of a group of women and girls in an isolated Mennonite colony who are debating how to respond to a series of brutal attacks from the men in their community.—
-
The serene pool and hot tub area is no different, decorated with native plants and nestled into the landscape; the walls encasing the pool deck are a nearly identical hue to the surrounding mountains.—
Verb
-
Shapiro has enjoyed robust public approval ratings and carries a reputation as a disciplined messenger and powerhouse fundraiser.—
-
Yates subsequently joined the San Diego Padres and enjoyed the longest sustained success of his career before bouncing to Atlanta, Texas and the Dodgers over the past three seasons.—
Cite this Entry
“Possessed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/possessed. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share