POSSESSED Synonyms: 125 Similar and Opposite Words

possessed 1 of 2

adjective

pə-ˈzest

Definition of possessed

as in composed

free from emotional or mental agitation remarkably poised and possessed in the midst of all the turmoil

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

possessed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of possess

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

Adjective

Whether it was penned by Apa or some Brit with possessed hips, the song soon took off. — Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 11 May 2026 During the interviews, officers confirmed that 27 of the 28 individuals had either received, sent, possessed or transported child pornography, according to the statement. — Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026

Verb

New coach Matthias Jaissle’s brand of vertical football lifted the mood at Newcastle and caused Liverpool plenty of problems on a day when Yoane Wissa played like a man possessed. — Stuart James, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 The men demanded to know where Sanchez Valera kept his jewelry and possessed Salazar’s firearm while inside, prosecutors said. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for possessed

Recent Examples of Synonyms for possessed

Adjective

Barbie’s hair choices, too, are ever so composed and elegant.

— Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 29 July 2026
Replacement Ryunosuke Ito, plucked from Meiji University, had a composed debut, including laying on a try for Matsunaga, who was five for five off the tee.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 July 2026

Definition of composed

Verb

Palisades nuclear power plant The Palisades nuclear power plant is located five miles away from South Haven, Michigan, and was owned by CMS Energy before its sale in 2007.

— Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2026
Romo also must pay $834, and an ignition interlock device must be installed on any vehicle owned or operated by Romo or registered in his name for a minimum of one year.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of owned

Adjective

Data brokers legally comb the internet for such information, build profiles using the collected information, and sell those profiles to anyone who’ll pay.

— Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 10 Aug. 2026
Paired with the Emme play table, this duo creates the kind of collected look that feels professionally layered.

— Vy Yang, Architectural Digest, 31 July 2026

Definition of collected

Adjective

Mood stabilizers influence brain receptors that release and maintain neurotransmitters, calm overactive circuits and strengthen cellular connections over time.

— Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
As a priest, Lamb held a calm, patient and somewhat self-deprecating sense of perspective.

— Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of calm

Verb

West Ham also retained club captain Jarrod Bowen, Taty Castellanos and Konstantinos Mavropanos, while Arne Engels, Manor Solomon, Joel Piroe and Divine Mukasa were their headline summer additions.

— Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Impressively, Fever retained the Dax's single-channel front ABS system by machining custom wheel-speed sensor discs and fabricating mounts for both the ABS module and the factory tip-over sensor.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of retained

Adjective

There are also less busy sites nearby including Hannya-ji Temple, a serene haven known for its sea of cosmos flowers and Japan’s tallest stone pagoda.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Sep. 2026
Drive a little over two hours from Toronto, and you’ll be transported from the hustle and bustle of the city to a serene wonderland shaped by the ancient rock of the Canadian Shield, thick pine forests, and lakes—a lot of lakes.

— Maryam Siddiqi, Travel + Leisure, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of serene

Verb

For hundreds of thousands of years, our species has enjoyed the warmth and protection of a good fire before bedtime.

— Mike McRae September 02, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026
During their weeks-long hiatus, Navarro enjoyed vacationing with loved ones, while Goldberg shared clips of her attending art shows across Europe.

— Kalia Richardson, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of enjoyed

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Style

“Possessed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/possessed. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of possessed

adjective

verb

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