control 1 of 2

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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

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control

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verb

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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

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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
State control of the industry under successive socialist governments has sidelined the foreign investment and know-how required to mine the metal, highly prized in the energy transition and in particular for the manufacture of EV batteries. Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2025 Turn into the skid - Turning into the skid can help the vehicle's tires realign to regain control. Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
However, there's a significant difference between containing and controlling a wildfire. Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2025 Murdoch’s Lupa Systems acquired a controlling stake in Tribeca in 2019. Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for control
Recent Examples of Synonyms for control
Noun
  • Zebra mussels can completely clog water intake structures and affect public water supplies, power generation and many other industries.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2025
  • The Dallas Cowboys climbed up most NFL power rankings lists following their 44-22 win over the Washington Commanders on Sunday.
    Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The action coincides with controllers’ first full missing paycheck since the shutdown began.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
  • The controllers also control ground movement of planes.
    Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Battling the debilitating symptoms of a late-stage brain tumor, his grasp on reality becomes increasingly fragile, and as the unlikely duo sets out on the run, old memories blur with the present, dredging up dark secrets from his past.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Lawler, the best known of the young actors thanks to her breakout work in Station Eleven, brings welcome awkward humor, while Stack, with the series’ most complex character, conveys an uneasy grasp on sanity that the rest of the show isn’t really prepared to deal with.
    Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Vishal Shah will lead AI product management, per an internal memo.
    Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2025
  • Our software integrates with any retail management system (RMS) or warehouse management system (WMS) to make donating more seamless than ever before, unlocking environmental, social and governance (ESG) wins, operational savings and brand loyalty in one platform.
    Andre Claudio, Sourcing Journal, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Halliburton’s stock is up about 15% this month since revealing its 20% ownership stake in VoltaGrid and its plans to partner on powering data centers worldwide.
    Jordan Blum, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2025
  • This is the first NFL deal for Sixth Street, which is one of the firms approved last year for NFL ownership.
    Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Hill said his tribe’s gaming operations are highly regulated, unlike bars, and are subject to annual audits and reporting to the state.
    Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
  • The biannual time shift tends to affect peoples’ circadian rhythms — the body’s 24-hour clock — which regulate several physiological processes.
    Hannah Poukish October 27, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Comparable in size to the Arc de Triomphe, the Porte Monumentale also contained surface ornamentation based on Haeckel’s exacting lifelong documentation of organisms to be found in the world’s oceans.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
  • Along with the remains, deputies found a backpack with clothes inside, a water bottle and a diary that didn’t contain any writing that helped in identifying the woman, according to a news release by the DNA Doe Project.
    Paloma Chavez, Sacbee.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Founded in 1972, Wisconsin Humanities is an independent affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, governed by a volunteer board of directors.
    Jim Higgins, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
  • And the remaining steps of the plan—the disarming of Hamas, the fielding of an international security force, and the establishment of a governing committee of Palestinian technocrats—will be a challenge, for the simple reason that no one knows how to do any of them.
    Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 26 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Control.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/control. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

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