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
Stacie E. Goddard, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
The surgeon is basically trying to make a very controlled and aesthetic scar—after all, a belly button is just an umbilical scar.
—Meirav Devash, Allure, 31 Mar. 2025
Steve Bender, Southern Living, 8 Mar. 2026
Today, patients with these illnesses are seen only a few times a year, which helps explain why hypertension is effectively controlled in only half of Americans.
—Robert Pearl, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for controlled
Adjective
The notion that rival great powers should come together to manage a chaotic international system is one that leaders have embraced at many points in history, often in the wake of catastrophic wars that left them seeking to establish a more controlled, reliable, and resilient order.
—Stacie E. Goddard, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
The surgeon is basically trying to make a very controlled and aesthetic scar—after all, a belly button is just an umbilical scar.
—Meirav Devash, Allure, 31 Mar. 2025
Verb
The size of the powder puff tree can be controlled by continuous trimming, even by moving them to an indoor location to avoid harsh winter climates.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 8 Mar. 2026
Today, patients with these illnesses are seen only a few times a year, which helps explain why hypertension is effectively controlled in only half of Americans.
—Robert Pearl, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for controlled
Recent Examples of Synonyms for controlled
Adjective
-
Downstairs, Bar Calico has a more restrained vibe.—
Wilder Davies,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Refined, deliberate, restrained.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But defense is heavily regulated by international humanitarian law and weapons testing standards, which in theory should also address the use of artificial intelligence.—
Parmy Olson,
Mercury News,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Electricity supplies are mostly regulated at the state level and managed across regions, using market structures that vary across the country.—
Josh Boak,
Fortune,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The oldest ice contained in Weißseespitze dates back roughly 6,000 years to the mid-Holocene, a warm period following the close of the last global ice age.—
Nidhi Sharma,
Popular Science,
13 Mar. 2026
-
The object, which also contained nuts and bolts, extinguished itself without harming anyone.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
One gets the sense, reading DuBois, that Stanton’s fervor for political action stemmed from a dread of being governed by idiots.—
Moira Donegan,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
-
The monarchist movement has not governed Iran since 1979, and its corrupt, despotic leader was overthrown in the revolution.—
Farah N. Jan,
The Conversation,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Jaguars senior Valentine operated from the mid-post like a certain Joker who plays a few miles down the road, stacking dimes on silver platters and scoring 13 points around the rim.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Why owning detention sites is beneficial Separately, ICE uses roughly 30 existing immigrant detention sites nationwide that are owned and operated by private contractors that the federal agency has paid to do so.—
Anna Giaritelli,
The Washington Examiner,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Some players appeared inhibited, none more so than winger Leon Bailey.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Callie hangs out with her more inhibited best friend, Minnie Dunn, played spectacularly well by Katherine Mallen Kupferer.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The strong winds have kept firefighters from containing any of the fires, the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency said.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
15 Mar. 2026
-
But the Lions kept their poise — and sank their free throws down the stretch.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Colin Stetson composed the score.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
13 Mar. 2026
-
The fact that the team is almost entirely composed of Americans with Italian heritage is by now well-known and lovingly mocked on both sides of the Atlantic.—
Sara Germano,
Sportico.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Controlled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/controlled. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
