as in restrained
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
1
as in regulated
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 contained
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 governed
to exercise authority or power over
circumstances often control the choices we make in life
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in operated
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 controlled
Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
Not in an overly aggressive way, just pretty controlled, moving the ball around.
—Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025
ABC News, 1 June 2026
Today, tandem bicycling is the rare industry controlled almost entirely by small businesses.
—Mark Dent, HubSpot, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for controlled
Adjective
Thiesse is his antithesis – quiet, controlled and polite.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
Not in an overly aggressive way, just pretty controlled, moving the ball around.
—Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025
Verb
Many of Myanmar’s resource-rich areas, where most mining operations have been largely unregulated, are controlled by different armed militias engaged in sporadic fighting against the central government to seek greater autonomy.
—ABC News, 1 June 2026
Today, tandem bicycling is the rare industry controlled almost entirely by small businesses.
—Mark Dent, HubSpot, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for controlled
Recent Examples of Synonyms for controlled
Adjective
-
Flowering woody shrubs that bloom on new wood tolerate or thrive on fairly aggressive pruning, while those that bloom on old wood require more careful, restrained pruning.—
Marie Iannotti,
The Spruce,
29 May 2026
-
Even out of context, the first meeting at the train station of Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard is ineffably moving, a model of restrained desire.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Although each has invested in compliance tooling, their architectures are fundamentally optimized for scale and accessibility, not for the verifiable operational independence that regulated enterprises require.—
Steve McDowell,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
-
The chemical behind the explosion — ammonium nitrate — is not regulated under RMP.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
The tank contained sodium hydroxide, sodium sulfide and disodium carbonate, officials have said.—
Phil Helsel,
NBC news,
29 May 2026
-
Blaine and the others have discovered the Fountain of Youth, contained within the blood of an entity named Mother (Nancy Daly).—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Even people who know little about reptiles understand, instinctively, that crocodile territory is governed by very old rules.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
Its 60 articles first governed the French Caribbean — Martinique, Guadeloupe and Saint-Domingue, today’s Haiti — and were later extended to French Guiana, Louisiana, and the Indian Ocean islands of Réunion and Mauritius.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
At Iowa, Clark often operated as both her team's primary scorer and primary facilitator, routinely attempting difficult passes that few players would even consider.—
Jon Root OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
30 May 2026
-
Deployed and operated by Daxbot, the robots are evaluating sidewalks, pedestrian pathways and curb ramps, police said.—
Jason Green,
Mercury News,
30 May 2026
Adjective
-
Both players were so inhibited for the final game of the set that the level of play resembled something from a local park.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
-
This really is a time to be less inhibited about going out.—
Joe Hernandez,
NPR,
25 May 2026
Verb
-
The Rockies kept piling on and taking away any chance for late-game drama in LoDo.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
31 May 2026
-
Tedo kept opening bottles of his bold Saperavi red and refilling pitchers of amber wine.—
Lori Rackl,
Boston Herald,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
These medium candles come in a frosted jar with fragrances composed of essential oils.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
-
Power comes on smoothly, highway passing feels confident and the Outback remains composed whether climbing grades or navigating city traffic.—
Tim Jackson,
Denver Post,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Controlled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/controlled. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
