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

However, M855 ammunition made for the U.S. military is packaged differently and cannot be possessed by or sold to the public.

From Los Angeles Times

The Second Grinnell Expedition’s “intrepid” crew was under the leadership of what New York’s Daily Herald called, “the indefatigable perseverance and indomitable courage” possessed by its thirty-three-year-old naval surgeon and commander.

From Literature

When Ben Rosenfeld started working as a residential assistant at a Stanford University dorm, he encountered 77 freshmen possessed by an “all-consuming” force.

From The Wall Street Journal

Delia is possessed by a ghoul who makes her sing the Caribbean number in the voice of Belafonte while she gyrates with her mortified dinner guests.

From Los Angeles Times

“Whatever happened to her isn’t something the police can handle. She vanished into thin air while possessed by someone who might have been my ex-girlfriend.”

From Literature