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
But his behavior became increasingly controlling and abusive, according to Spanish investigators. Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 July 2025 But the prevalent commentary was about the link between the seemingly controlling nature of Palmer’s husband and the growing popularity of trad wife content creators. Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 11 July 2025
Adjective
However, there's a significant difference between containing and controlling a wildfire. Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 10 Sep. 2025 In tests run in the 1960s on such engines, such as NASA's NERVA rocket, controlling the engine was through a preprogrammed script – much like a common bread machine. David Szondy september 10, New Atlas, 10 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for controlling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for controlling
Verb
  • Much of Emery’s strategy is about organisation and regulating the game’s tempo.
    Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
  • The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing rolling back what's known as the endangerment finding, the basis for rules regulating climate pollution, including from coal and gas-fired power plants, cars and trucks, and methane from the oil and gas industry.
    Julia Simon, NPR, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In February, a fire destroyed a South Korean budget carrier Air Busan plane, which subsequently prohibited carry-on luggage containing portable chargers from being stored in overhead bins.
    Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • On DSPs and at digital retailers, the 23 new songs merely comprise disc one of Swag II, with a second disc also containing the 21 songs originally released as Swag the First.
    Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • There is a long history of tumult in American cricket, with USA Cricket Association - the previous governing body - expelled in 2017 after being suspended three times before that.
    Tristan Lavalette, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • State laws governing public universities make sense given that state governments, and their taxpayers, fund those universities.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Coping Strategies For Fall Fatigue In The Workplace Quesenberry advises that the key to managing fall fatigue is to be proactive and make small, intentional adjustments to your daily routine like setting boundaries and prioritizing rest can safeguard mental well-being during this time of year.
    Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Containment is part of a larger plan for managing a wildfire.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Managers often grow more assertive (sometimes drifting into domineering).
    Dave Winsborough, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Also in the cast: Emmy winner Laurie Metcalfe, as Augusta Gein, the murderer's religious, domineering mother; Tom Hollander as director Alfred Hitchcock; Olivia Williams as the filmmaker's wife, Alma Reville Hitchcock; and Lesley Manville, as Gein's second murder victim, Bernice Worden.
    Chris Foran, jsonline.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Marquette University launched a new police unit focused on curbing reckless driving around campus just a few months before two student-athletes died in a crash about a mile from campus.
    Kelly Meyerhofer, jsonline.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Stop & Shop lowered its prices on thousands of items in late August, in a separate initiative, but a company representative told the Herald that curbing shoplifting remained on its radar.
    Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Time saved in data collection can be devoted to results, whether composing a report, translating documents, developing a marketing strategy or creating new software.
    Morey Haber, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
  • Williams, 93 years old and still composing music, should be left alone and left to do his more important creative tasks.
    Tim Greiving, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • With Daniel Pinto set to retire in 2026 and Jennifer Piepszak ruling herself out, names like Marianne Lake, Mary Erdoes, and Troy Rohrbaugh remain in the mix, though Dimon confirmed the bank will also weigh external candidates.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 12 Sep. 2025
  • One year after her appointment, Karki faced an impeachment motion from the ruling coalition after her bench overturned the government’s choice for police chief, a decision seen as a defense of meritocracy against political cronyism.
    Sugam Pokharel, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Controlling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/controlling. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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