as in restrained
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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
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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
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3
as in governed
to exercise authority or power over
circumstances often control the choices we make in life
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4
as in operated
to look after and make decisions about
during the period that she controlled the company it was highly profitable
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Example Sentences
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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
Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 9 Feb. 2026
An essential lifeline for Palestinians in Gaza, the Rafah crossing was the only one in the Palestinian territory not controlled by Israel before the war.
—CBS News, 8 Feb. 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
Women are ornamental to a world entirely populated and controlled by rich men.
—Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 9 Feb. 2026
An essential lifeline for Palestinians in Gaza, the Rafah crossing was the only one in the Palestinian territory not controlled by Israel before the war.
—CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for controlled
Recent Examples of Synonyms for controlled
Adjective
-
Hours after Pretti was shot dead while restrained and kneeling, Leon Virden and one of his sons joined a protest near the scene.—
Natasha Korecki,
NBC news,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Beatrix, first as crown princess and later as queen, continued to use the tiara, although with a more restrained use, often combining it with other pieces of the ensemble or reserving it for very specific diplomatic appointments.—
Marta Martínez Tato,
Vanity Fair,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
After independence, more banks regulated by individual states, if at all, were established.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
15 Feb. 2026
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Authored the Cultivate Texas Act—responsible adult legalization (age 21+, regulated like alcohol, strict youth prevention/testing) generating billions for property tax elimination and schools.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The best-selling book contained several bombshell revelations, many of which were related to Spears’ controversial conservatorship, which finally ended in 2021.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Fungi fossils preserved in the chert contained compounds from the breakdown of chitin and glucan, key structural molecules in fungi.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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This is the sort of managerial aimlessness the Post is being governed by, just one example of the missteps and squandering of opportunity framed as strategy.—
Sally Jenkins,
The Atlantic,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Hogan governed for eight years under that principle.—
Bobby Zirkin,
Baltimore Sun,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
These aircraft are operated by the United States in Japan, the US Navy carrier groups, and the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Feb. 2026
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The 65,000-square-foot space will be operated by AEG Presents and is expected to open next year.—
Travis Webb,
Austin American Statesman,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
There are students who feel inhibited from expressing their Jewish or Zionist identity because of the atmosphere of the atmosphere of intimidation or harassment on college campuses.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Aug. 2025
-
Nini and Lali seemed happier without him—more relaxed, less inhibited.—
Tao Lin,
Harpers Magazine,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
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That builds on similar trends throughout 2025, when the industry buoyed an otherwise slow labor market, as the nation’s hospitals, clinics and nursing homes kept hiring even as many employers pulled back.—
Abha Bhattarai,
Washington Post,
14 Feb. 2026
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But with fewer trees along the highway and more grassy areas, flame heights are kept well below seven or eight feet, which would threaten evacuation.—
Alan Gionet,
CBS News,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The score was composed by Michael Sauter.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Crew-12 is composed of NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev.—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Controlled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/controlled. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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