1
as in domineering
Related Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in governing
to exercise authority or power over
circumstances often control the choices we make in life
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in managing
to look after and make decisions about
during the period that she controlled the company it was highly profitable
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
John Franklin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
After controlling for clinical and sociodemographic factors, the researchers tested the womens’ muscle strength with grip strength and chair stand tests, which evaluate upper and lower body strength, respectively.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 27 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
Further, forcing suburban commuter cities to sit at the table with the city of San Diego controlling 42 of 100 votes on the SANDAG board is like two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner.
—John Franklin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
After controlling for clinical and sociodemographic factors, the researchers tested the womens’ muscle strength with grip strength and chair stand tests, which evaluate upper and lower body strength, respectively.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for controlling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for controlling
Adjective
-
Netflix’s domineering presence, one that permeated every corner of a typically sacred day at the ballpark, had mercifully evaporated.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Wrapping production last October, Carrie is described as a reimagining of the story of misfit high schooler Carrie White, who has spent her life in seclusion with her domineering mother.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, pointing to precedent on states regulating health care professionals.—
Nina Totenberg,
NPR,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Some 30 states now have laws regulating or banning the practice, according to Saint Louis University legal researchers.—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Police found a small plastic bag containing crystal powder residue that officers suspected was meth or cocaine, according to an affidavit, the Los Angeles Times reported.—
Cheryl V. Jackson,
IndyStar,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Workers discovered a grave containing human remains beneath tiles after part of the floor of St Peter and Paul Church subsided in February, triggering a race to identify the skeleton through DNA testing.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Brilliant, strong, visionary, a far different approach to governing as that nation’s first woman leader.—
Kevin Powell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Despite these risks, the five-year plans governing the expensive and time-consuming cleanups at the sites often failed to account for damage posed by flooding from sea-level rise and more frequent storms and wildfire, the IG’s review found.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Cooking, handling special requests and managing busy environments still depend on people.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Wait times listed on the MyTSA mobile app may not be accurate because TSA isn’t actively managing its sites during the shutdown.—
John Raby,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
The grasping big toe also suggested this human relative spent more time in the trees.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
26 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Her former colleague, Paul Michel, says Newman is clear and cogent.—
Carrie Johnson,
NPR,
29 Mar. 2026
-
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 1 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
