CONTROLLING Synonyms: 154 Similar and Opposite Words

controlling 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of controlling

as in domineering

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

as in dominating

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

controlling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of control

as in regulating

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

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

as in governing

to exercise authority or power over circumstances often control the choices we make in life

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in managing

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 controlling

Adjective

ByteDance keeps a non-controlling stake to comply with federal law. — Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026 According to those close to the family, József was extremely controlling and would often make terrifying threats. — Maddie Garfinkle, PEOPLE, 18 Apr. 2026

Verb

Moving from laboratory production to commercial volumes requires companies to maintain yields while controlling costs, a process Spiber has already undertaken for Brewed Protein. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026 That would make SpaceX the acquiring company in a stock swap, and potentially give Musk the best chance of controlling a combined entity. — Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for controlling

Recent Examples of Synonyms for controlling

Adjective

Lee recognizes the potential for that in the servant and chooses not to do these things, or at least not do them in a domineering or self-serving way.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026
Sources said Gunning plays Annie, a quietly dutiful wife who has sacrificed her ambitions to raise four sons under her domineering husband, Duncan.

— Matt Grobar, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of domineering

Verb

In the absence of a federal law regulating them, the responsibility falls to local governments, said Ridout, who estimates that about 30 states have some type of rule or requirement regarding AI in political campaigns.

— Anagilmara Vílchez, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2026
The agency charged with regulating Colorado’s first-in-the-nation legal recreational marijuana market potentially put consumers at risk of using contaminated products, a new state audit found.

— Christopher Osher, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of regulating

Verb

Instead, her attackers started ripping her gear off her body – her camera bag, her lenses, her pouch containing her American passport, credit cards, documents and other items.

— Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026
Meghan said a letter containing allegations against Thomas Markle was sent to the authorities and later shared with her.

— Victoria Craw, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of containing

Verb

By contrast, recent restrictions or delays suggest a greater emphasis on managing relations with Beijing and avoiding unnecessary escalation.

— Ningrong Liu, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
My experience includes managing campaigns, leading teams, and building relationships with community leaders.

— Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of managing

Adjective

My hope is tenuous, grasping; scar tissue from 108 years of futility is never fully salved.

— Stephen J. Nesbitt, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026
In this war lawyers invariably are depicted as soulless and grasping ambulance-chasers unconcerned about their clients’ welfare, and businesses as, well, soulless, grasping and unconcerned about their customers.

— Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026

Definition of grasping

Adjective

Television doesn’t lack for comedies that deliver biting satire and cogent commentary — that are, in fact, so committed to commentary that nobody bothers to even include jokes.

— Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2026
Pike didn’t always have such a cogent theory of the power of the body in performance.

— Sarah Crompton, Vogue, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of cogent

Browse Nearby Words

controllers

controlling

controls

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Controlling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/controlling. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of controlling

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

milieu

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes