possessed by

Idioms  

1. Driven by, obsessed with, as in He was possessed by the idea of becoming a millionaire. This idiom employs possess in the sense of “dominate one's thoughts or ideas,” a usage dating from the late 1500s.

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Example Sentences

If a person in the diocese comes to fear that they or their loved one has been bodily possessed by a demon, the diocese launches an investigation involving medical, psychological, and psychiatric testing.

From Slate • Jun. 8, 2026

There’s perfect pitch, and there’s whatever level of musical genius is possessed by the titular figure in “Tuner.”

From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026

In fourth place with $5.6 million was "Lee Cronin's The Mummy," an original horror flick from Warner Bros about a young girl possessed by a demon in an ancient mummification ritual.

From Barron's • Apr. 26, 2026

In Season 2, he is possessed by the Mind Flayer and feels pain when the vines in the Upside Down are damaged or Demogorgons are hurt.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 20, 2025

He came from the water and the marsh possessed by a stern angel that burned in the blood around his eyes.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy