controlling 1 of 2

present participle of control
1
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
4

controlling

2 of 2

adjective

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
Verb
Small controlling actions can become bigger controlling actions. Thomas Westerholm, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025 Lepkowski described her cousin's ex as possessive, controlling and physically abusive. Nushrat Rahman, Freep.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Ineffective policies for the EV market could mirror the loss of the solar energy industry, says Wendy Cutler, senior vice president at the Asia Society Policy Institute, where too-late action left America outpaced and China controlling more than 80 percent of the world’s solar panels. Rebecca A. Fannin, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025 In uncertain economic times, employees can feel overwhelmed at work by layoffs, hiring freezes, restructuring, controlling costs, colleagues resigning, and missing revenue targets. Mita Mallick, Big Think, 30 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for controlling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for controlling
Verb
  • Letizia says his dispensary in Menomonee Falls supports regulating hemp, including requiring testing products and setting a statewide age restriction.
    Gina Lee Castro, jsonline.com, 3 Oct. 2025
  • The heat exchanger is expected to be critical in regulating the substantial heat produced by hydrogen fuel cells, ensuring safety and efficiency in flight operations.
    Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • However, there's a significant difference between containing and controlling a wildfire.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 8 Oct. 2025
  • Some content containing masculinity messaging seemed to be neutral—neither harmful nor beneficial—while other content was overtly problematic.
    Ashleigh N. DeLuca, Parents, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • France, unlike Germany, the Netherlands and some other countries in Europe, doesn’t have a tradition of political coalitions governing together.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Failing to make an appointment within the 30-day period means the governing body can appoint someone.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Containment is part of a larger plan for managing a wildfire.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 8 Oct. 2025
  • Pumpkin seed oil may have many health benefits, including boosting skin, hair, and heart health and managing menopause symptoms.
    Mark Gurarie, Health, 7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The domineering yet magnetic actor made the leap from London to the big screen, his sexy mad scientist becoming synonymous with controversy itself.
    Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 1 Oct. 2025
  • But as Blitzer points out, the Magnificent 7's domineering influence does not mean the S&P 500 is broken.
    Alex Mayyasi, NPR, 23 Sep. 2025
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
  • China's official gauge for manufacturing activity showed a smaller-than-expected contraction in September as Beijing intensified its efforts aimed at curbing industrial overcapacity amid sluggish domestic demand and global trade disruptions.
    Anniek Bao, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Some developers will even build their own parallel roads, curbing costs for ITD, Wald said.
    Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • For Ares, Nine Inch Nails will be composing the soundtrack, bringing their iconic industrial rock sound to the Grid.
    Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025
  • The difference is that composing while in motion may be a particularly useful way to address a crisis in creativity.
    Karen Palmer September 19, Literary Hub, 19 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Controlling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/controlling. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.

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