controlling

adjective

con·​trol·​ling kən-ˈtrō-liŋ 

: inclined to control others' behavior : domineering

Examples of controlling in a Sentence

She is very strict and controlling.

The larger bank remained the controlling party when it took over the smaller banks.

He paid over 40 million dollars for a controlling interest in the company.

Recent Examples on the Web

Tuesday’s announcement also comes as Shari Redstone — the media heiress who holds a controlling share of National Amusements, Paramount Global’s parent company — continues to seek a merger between Paramount and David Ellison’s Skydance Media. —Liam Reilly, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2025

Has exhibited possessive or controlling behavior, and is in a recent or pending divorce or separation. —Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Apr. 2025

There was no controlling vibes or no weird feelings. —Anne Easton, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025

The sentences are to run consecutively for a controlling sentence of 29 years and 5 months. —Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1974, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing controlling

• controlling interest

Rhymes for controlling

• cajoling
• consoling
• enrolling
• extolling
• patrolling
• unrolling
• bowling
• coaling
• doling
• growling
• holing
• poling

Kids Definition

controlling

adjective

: tending to control the behavior of other people

Legal Definition

controlling

adjective

1

a

: exercising domination or influence

the controlling principles of law

b

: dispositive

judgment debtor's stipulation to pay a specified amount is not controlling

—J. H. Friedenthal et al.

2

: having controlling interest

controlling shareholders