CONTROL Synonyms: 219 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'control' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of control are authority , command , dominion , jurisdiction , power , and sway . While all these words mean "the right to govern or rule or determine," control stresses the power to direct and restrain. // you are responsible for the students under your control

Q: When can 'authority' be used instead of 'control'?

While in some cases nearly identical to control , authority implies power for a specific purpose within specified limits. // granted the authority to manage her estate

Q: In what contexts can 'command' take the place of 'control'?

The words command and control are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, command implies the power to make arbitrary decisions and compel obedience. // the army officer in command

Q: When is 'dominion' a more appropriate choice than 'control'?

Although the words dominion and control have much in common, dominion stresses sovereign power or supreme authority. // given dominion over all the animals

Q: Where would 'jurisdiction' be a reasonable alternative to 'control'?

The meanings of jurisdiction and control largely overlap; however, jurisdiction applies to official power exercised within prescribed limits. // the bureau having jurisdiction over parks

Q: When would 'power' be a good substitute for 'control'?

In some situations, the words power and control are roughly equivalent. However, power implies possession of ability to wield force, authority, or influence. // the power to mold public opinion

Q: When might 'sway' be a better fit than 'control'?

While the synonyms sway and control are close in meaning, sway suggests the extent of exercised power or influence. // the empire extended its sway over the region

control 1 of 2

noun

Definition of control

as in power

the right or means to command or control others teachers are responsible for the students under their control

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in controller

a mechanism for adjusting the operation of a device, machine, or system the controls for the player are well marked

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in grasp

the ability to direct the course of something after the tail fell off, the plane went out of the pilot's control firefighters keeping control of the blaze

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in management

the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something control of manufacturing operations was given to a new manager with fresh ideas

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in ownership

the fact or state of having (something) at one's disposal took control of the process of selecting candidates for the scholarship

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

control

2 of 2

verb

kən-ˈtrōl

as in to regulate

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

as in to contain

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

as in to govern

to exercise authority or power over circumstances often control the choices we make in life

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to manage

to look after and make decisions about during the period that she controlled the company it was highly profitable

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun control contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of control are authority, command, dominion, jurisdiction, power, and sway. While all these words mean "the right to govern or rule or determine," control stresses the power to direct and restrain.

you are responsible for the students under your control

When can authority be used instead of control?

While in some cases nearly identical to control, authority implies power for a specific purpose within specified limits.

granted the authority to manage her estate

In what contexts can command take the place of control?

The words command and control are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, command implies the power to make arbitrary decisions and compel obedience.

the army officer in command

When is dominion a more appropriate choice than control?

Although the words dominion and control have much in common, dominion stresses sovereign power or supreme authority.

given dominion over all the animals

Where would jurisdiction be a reasonable alternative to control?

The meanings of jurisdiction and control largely overlap; however, jurisdiction applies to official power exercised within prescribed limits.

the bureau having jurisdiction over parks

When would power be a good substitute for control?

In some situations, the words power and control are roughly equivalent. However, power implies possession of ability to wield force, authority, or influence.

the power to mold public opinion

When might sway be a better fit than control?

While the synonyms sway and control are close in meaning, sway suggests the extent of exercised power or influence.

the empire extended its sway over the region

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 control

Noun

Despite knowing the consequences, women are refusing to surrender control over their bodies. — Pegah Banihashemi, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026 China claims Taiwan, a self-governing democracy, as its own breakaway province and hasn’t renounced the use of force to bring it under its control. — ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026

Verb

Meanwhile, the electoral council, known as the CEP, still lacked access to voting centers in at least 23 municipalities in three regions where deadly armed groups continue to control large swaths of territory. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 19 Sep. 2026 For the first time, the parliamentary election includes residents of four Ukrainian regions that Moscow illegally annexed after the war began, but still doesn’t fully control. — ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for control

Recent Examples of Synonyms for control

Noun

And Majority Leader John Thune still could hold a roll-call vote on a data center power bill that Democrats blocked on Thursday.

— Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 18 Sep. 2026
Stone and Robert Icke, for example, have both built careers on transplanting old stories into slick contemporary containers, and, in varying degrees, those containers can come packed with power.

— Sara Holdren, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of power

Noun

When winter arrived, Caltrans dispatched him east to Caples Lake in the Sierra Nevada mountains to work as a chain controller — part of an annual seasonal draw from valley yards to keep heavy mountain passes operational.

— Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Apple has entered multiple new product categories in recent years, and among the next few debuts might be a gaming controller for iPhones.

— Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of controller

Noun

United’s head coach had a face like thunder post-match, and understandably so after his team allowed two points to slip through their grasp in the dying seconds.

— Stuart James, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
In the same way that the ball bounced off Darren Morris’ fingers and disappeared into the crowded Oregon bench, another chance to defeat a Power Four opponent slipped agonizingly through Boise State’s grasp on Saturday afternoon.

— Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of grasp

Noun

That additional signal could allow existing battery management systems to estimate state of charge more accurately as a battery operates.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 Sep. 2026
Put simply, Chinese EVs are just better than a lot of the competition, says Howard Yu, a professor of management and innovation at IMD Business School and codirector of the Future Readiness program, which evaluates global car manufacturers.

— Sam Forsdick, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of management

Verb

Hundreds of those grants were later reinstated when a federal judge ruled that the slap-dash nature of the terminations violated the Administrative Procedures Act, which regulates how agencies are supposed to change policies.

— Anil Oza, STAT, 17 Sep. 2026
The episode marked the latest instance of Congress trying and failing to advance AI legislation amid a growing debate over whether, if at all, to regulate the technology that industry leaders warn may pose doomsday threats to humanity.

— Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of regulate

Verb

Another endearing dining feature at the property is its honesty pantry containing drinks and snacks to go and a coffee station for early risers—guests can feel free to pad about any time of day or night.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Sep. 2026
As promulgated last month, ballots must use envelopes with an election-mail logo that can to be scanned using high-speed processing equipment and contain a barcode unique to each voter.

— New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of contain

Verb

In 2025, World Tennis, the sport’s world governing body, changed the rules, allowing it essentially everywhere.

— Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
But the administration has also been working to water down historic-preservation rules governing federal projects just as the arch has become subject to that process.

— Janay Kingsberry, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of govern

Cite this Entry

Style

“Control.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/control. Accessed 20 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of control

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