possessiveness

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“I had written a book on writing once …” How did professional jealousy, competitiveness, possessiveness, or, on the brighter side, tenderness, collaborative spirit and generosity play out as you wrote a writing book together?

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026

In contrast to the spirit of cooperation required for a successful recovery effort, Collar wrote in 1992, “ownership is a matter of jealousy, prestige and possessiveness that is fundamentally different in psychological origin.”

From Science Magazine • Jun. 8, 2022

Whether her thin-skinned possessiveness is new, new to you, or well-established, you do have some options for dealing with it:

From Washington Post • Apr. 17, 2022

It's not narcissism or ego, it's toxic possessiveness and idealism.

From Salon • Feb. 15, 2022

She had some of her Aunt Evy’s talent for mimicking, some of Ruthie Nolan’s possessiveness.

From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith