1
as in domineering
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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
Chris Deubert, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Small controlling actions can become bigger controlling actions.
—Thomas Westerholm, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
ABC News, 5 Mar. 2026
Advertisement As Supreme Leader, Khamenei virtually dictated all aspects of governance in the Islamic Republic, appointing the heads of the judiciary and controlling Iran’s military and the Revolutionary Guard Corps—the defenders of Iran’s Islamic system.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for controlling
Adjective
In recent years, all of the major North American sports leagues have changed their ownership rules to permit specialist private equity funds to buy non-controlling stakes in their clubs under strict rules.
—Chris Deubert, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Small controlling actions can become bigger controlling actions.
—Thomas Westerholm, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
In addressing China's domestic economic challenges, officials pledged to stabilize the housing market by controlling new supply and reducing inventory.
—ABC News, 5 Mar. 2026
Advertisement As Supreme Leader, Khamenei virtually dictated all aspects of governance in the Islamic Republic, appointing the heads of the judiciary and controlling Iran’s military and the Revolutionary Guard Corps—the defenders of Iran’s Islamic system.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for controlling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for controlling
Adjective
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Adam McKay’s toxically smug dissection of Dick Cheney fails to take the full measure of this monstrous vice-president, but even so, Bale taps into something elemental about the man’s arrogance and domineering personality.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
7 Mar. 2026
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Sophie Turner plays Anne, living in the countryside and struggling in poverty with her domineering mother-in-law Morwen (Harden).—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Feb. 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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Instead of regulating the private sector, the government is simply regulating itself.—
Howard Dvorkin,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Mar. 2026
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Vianna also noted the importance of further regulating the internet to stop the rapid circulation of misogynistic content.—
Eléonore Hughes,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In a study published today in Frontiers in Earth Science, the researchers analyzed a nearly 32-feet-long (10 meters) ice core containing atmospheric records spanning the Roman empire up to the mid-17th century.—
Nidhi Sharma,
Popular Science,
13 Mar. 2026
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On the southwest coast, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office published a detailed document containing information about county laws and micromobility safety, including a call for parents to help keep their children safe while riding.—
Alissa Gary,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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When raising money consumes so much of a lawmaker's schedule, governing risks being squeezed into the margins.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Her government is also set to scrap restrictions on lethal arms exports in the coming weeks to promote the development of Japan’s defense industry and cooperation with friendly nations, based on a proposal recently submitted by her party and its governing coalition partner.—
Mari Yamaguchi,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Glen, former deputy mayor for housing and economic development under Mayor de Blasio, is founder and managing principal at MSquared, a real estate investment and development company.—
Alicia Glen,
New York Daily News,
8 Mar. 2026
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In a move that signaled the coming power grab, County CEO Michelle Aguirre intervened, keeping Schultz on the payroll to continue managing the very investments Freidenrich was elected to oversee.—
John Seiler,
Oc Register,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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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
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The grasping big toe also suggested this human relative spent more time in the trees.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
26 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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And to make a cogent case to the American public in 2028.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2026
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The most cogent case proved to be Salesforce, which happened to rally hard on its earnings.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
1 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Controlling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/controlling. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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