1
as in domineering
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in regulating
to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression)
you must learn to control your temper
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in containing
to gain emotional or mental control of
he controlled himself only with the greatest difficulty in the face of his opponent's insulting remarks
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3
as in governing
to exercise authority or power over
circumstances often control the choices we make in life
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4
as in managing
to look after and make decisions about
during the period that she controlled the company it was highly profitable
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of controlling
Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 15 Dec. 2025
Yet another was a forum for people who, like me, had left a highly controlling religious denomination.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025
Jamie Lincoln Kitman, Rolling Stone, 24 Apr. 2026
Berlanti Productions is currently under an overall deal at WBTV, with the studio controlling the rights to the Hanna-Barbera characters.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for controlling
Adjective
Rousseau is a notoriously controlling and meticulous leader, obsessed with optics and strict about the physical fitness of his members.
—Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 15 Dec. 2025
Yet another was a forum for people who, like me, had left a highly controlling religious denomination.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
The systems for safety, driver assistance, controlling the vehicle, are so sophisticated and there’s so much software in the vehicles that are sensing devices.
—Jamie Lincoln Kitman, Rolling Stone, 24 Apr. 2026
Berlanti Productions is currently under an overall deal at WBTV, with the studio controlling the rights to the Hanna-Barbera characters.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for controlling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for controlling
Adjective
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Token, pushover human Seth (Gil Ozeri) lives under the thumb of the tiny, domineering dog Brandi (the incomparable Amy Sedaris), a high maintenance diva with a yen for single-use Stanley cups.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
20 Apr. 2026
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After moving at a glacial pace—it’s been 20 years since the original 2006 film—the movie is having its world premiere on Monday evening, reintroducing a select group of New Yorkers to Meryl Streep’s Miranda Priestly, the chicly domineering editor in chief of Runway magazine.—
Savannah Walsh,
Vanity Fair,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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You’re supposed to win when that happens … except that the two Dodgers starters, Shohei Ohtani and Blake Snell, were equally dominating.—
Jayson Stark,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The City Council is the latest legislative body to take up the work of regulating social media companies for minors.—
Cayla Bamberger,
New York Daily News,
21 Apr. 2026
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The cotton underside is just insulating enough to work on your bed year-round, while the linen’s airflow lets heat escape for a naturally temperature-regulating combination.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The rambling, low-slung building, containing 200 rooms, including 36 suites, is easy to get lost in.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
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The findings, published in an April 21 study led by University of Florida geologist Amy Williams in the journal Nature, reveal that of the 21 carbon-containing molecules identified, seven were detected for the first time on Mars.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The rollbacks included minimum wage requirements for home healthcare workers and people with disabilities, and rules governing exposure to harmful substances and safety procedures at mines.—
Seung Min Kim,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
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Track and field’s international governing body decided to allow seven Americans — instead of the usual four — to compete at the world championships in Denmark.—
Jennifer McDermott,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Stafford is 38 and managing degenerative back issues.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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Micky Arison is listed as managing general partner.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Apes, on the other hand, have much flatter, more grasping feet, indicating that they’re better suited for climbing than for repetitive ground contact.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2026
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In this war lawyers invariably are depicted as soulless and grasping ambulance-chasers unconcerned about their clients’ welfare, and businesses as, well, soulless, grasping and unconcerned about their customers.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Her former colleague, Paul Michel, says Newman is clear and cogent.—
Carrie Johnson,
NPR,
29 Mar. 2026
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Many of the fragments spreading through the digital panopticon comprise real footage of real events, but their cumulative effect is far from a cogent portrait.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Controlling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/controlling. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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