Posessed vs. Possessed — Which is Correct Spelling?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 29, 2024
"Posessed" is an incorrect spelling. The correct form is "possessed," meaning having ownership or control.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Posessed or Possessed
How to spell Possessed?
Posessed
Incorrect Spelling
Possessed
Correct Spelling
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Key Differences
Remember the root word "possess" and that the past tense doubles the 's' before adding 'ed'.
Use mnemonic: "To have is to POSSESS, and in the past, you POSSESSED."
Recall the phrase "He possessed great strength" to remember the spelling.
Associate with "obsessed" which also has double 's'.
Think of possession having a strong grip, just like the double 's'.
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How Do You Spell Possessed Correctly?
Incorrect: The story is about a house that is said to be posessed.
Correct: The story is about a house that is said to be possessed.
Incorrect: They believed the artifact was posessed with magical powers.
Correct: They believed the artifact was possessed with magical powers.
Incorrect: She felt like she was posessed by a strange feeling.
Correct: She felt like she was possessed by a strange feeling.
Incorrect: He acted as if he was posessed by a spirit.
Correct: He acted as if he was possessed by a spirit.
Incorrect: The character in the movie was posessed by a demon.
Correct: The character in the movie was possessed by a demon.
Possessed Definitions
Controlled by a spirit or force.
He acted like he was possessed.
Influenced or controlled by something.
He was possessed with jealousy.
Being a holder or bearer.
He possessed the necessary credentials.
Deeply absorbed or engrossed.
She was possessed by her thoughts.
Owning or mastering something. Used with of
One who is possessed of great wealth.
Controlled by a spirit, demon, god, or other supernatural force.
Controlled by a strong inner drive; obsessed
Possessed by love.
Possessed with rage.
Calm; collected
One who remained possessed in times of great trial.
Simple past tense and past participle of possess
Controlled by evil spirits.
He was exorcised because he was thought to be possessed by the Devil.
Seized by powerful emotions.
(uncomparable) Followed by of: having; owning.
The president was possessed of great wealth.
Influenced or controlled by a powerful force such as a strong emotion;
By love possessed
In a murderous frenzy as if possessed by a demon;
The soldier was completely amuck
Berserk with grief
A berserk worker smashing windows
Having or owning something.
She possessed a rare book collection.
Possessed Meaning in a Sentence
He seemed possessed by a sudden urge to travel the world.
The old legend says the forest is possessed by ancient spirits.
She was possessed with an incredible talent for music.
She felt possessed by a determination to succeed against all odds.
They tried to perform an exorcism on the possessed man.
The idea that the artifact possessed magical properties was intriguing.
The book is about a possessed doll that terrifies a family.
The possessed house became the talk of the town.
The villagers thought the old castle was possessed by ghosts.
She wrote the novel as if she were possessed, finishing it in record time.
Possessed by a fierce competitive spirit, she trained harder than ever.
The painting was rumored to be possessed and would change expressions.
Possessed by a dream, he worked tirelessly to make it a reality.
His eyes looked as if he were possessed when he played the piano.
The ancient sword was believed to be possessed with the power to bring peace.
The movie's climax reveals the villain to be possessed by an evil entity.
The story explored the theme of love possessed by obsession.
The villagers performed rituals to cleanse the area of possessed spirits.
They entered the possessed forest despite the warnings.
The theory suggested the island was possessed by the spirits of its former inhabitants.
He felt as if he were possessed by the music, unable to stop dancing.
She approached her goals as if possessed by an unquenchable fire.
Her possessed laughter in the film sent shivers down the audience's spine.
A possessed creature was the centerpiece of the horror game.
The documentary featured stories of objects possessed by spirits.
Possessed Idioms & Phrases
Demon possessed
Controlled or influenced by a demonic presence.
The ancient texts spoke of a warrior who was demon possessed.
Possessed by a cause
Deeply committed or devoted to a cause.
She was possessed by a cause to protect endangered animals.
Possessed with a spirit
Influenced or driven by a particular spirit or energy.
The artist seemed possessed with a spirit of creativity.
Possessed of
Having or showing a certain quality or characteristic.
She was possessed of a rare intelligence that made her stand out.
Possessed of a notion
Holding a specific belief or idea firmly.
He was possessed of a notion that he could change the world.
Possessed by passion
Overwhelmed or controlled by intense emotion or desire.
The characters in the novel were possessed by passion, leading to their downfall.
Spirit possessed
Believed to be under the influence of spirits, often in a religious or cultural context.
The shaman was considered spirit possessed during the ritual.
Possessed of one’s senses
Fully in control of one's mental faculties.
Even in the face of danger, she remained possessed of her senses.
Possessed by the idea
Completely obsessed or preoccupied with an idea.
He was possessed by the idea of finding the lost city.
Possessed by an urge
Having a strong, almost uncontrollable desire to do something.
He was possessed by an urge to tell the truth, no matter the consequences.
Common Curiosities
What is the pronunciation of possessed?
Possessed is pronounced as /pəˈzɛst/.
What is the plural form of possessed?
"Possessed" doesn't have a typical plural form as it's an adjective or verb form. However, nouns it modifies can be plural.
What is the verb form of possessed?
The verb form is "possess."
Why is it called possessed?
It's called "possessed" to denote ownership or control, either literally or figuratively.
What is the root word of possessed?
The root word is "possess."
Which vowel is used before possessed?
The indefinite article "a" is used before "possessed."
Is possessed a noun or adjective?
"Possessed" can be both an adjective and the past tense of the verb "possess."
What is the singular form of possessed?
The singular form is "possessed."
Is possessed an adverb?
No, "possessed" is not an adverb.
Is possessed an abstract noun?
No, it's not.
Is the word possessed imperative?
No, it's not.
Which preposition is used with possessed?
"Of" can be used, e.g., "possessed of a talent."
Which conjunction is used with possessed?
Any common conjunction can be used, depending on sentence structure.
How do we divide possessed into syllables?
pos-sessed.
What part of speech is possessed?
"Possessed" can be an adjective or a verb.
What is the first form of possessed?
The first form is "possess."
Which article is used with possessed?
Both "a" and "the" can be used, depending on context.
Is possessed a negative or positive word?
"Possessed" is neutral; its connotation depends on context.
Is possessed a countable noun?
No, as it's primarily an adjective or verb form.
How many syllables are in possessed?
"Possessed" has 2 syllables.
What is the opposite of possessed?
The opposite could be "dispossessed" or "lacking."
What is the second form of possessed?
The second form (past tense) is "possessed."
Is possessed a vowel or consonant?
"Possessed" is a word containing both vowels and consonants.
Which determiner is used with possessed?
Determiners like "this," "that," "my," "our," etc., can be used.
Is the possessed term a metaphor?
It can be used metaphorically, e.g., when referring to being controlled by emotions.
What is a stressed syllable in possessed?
The second syllable, "sess," is stressed.
What is another term for possessed?
Another term can be "owned" or "controlled," depending on the context.
How is possessed used in a sentence?
She possessed a confidence that was evident to everyone in the room.
Is possessed a collective noun?
No, it isn't.
What is the third form of possessed?
The third form (past participle) is "possessed."
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
