controlling 1 of 2

Definition of controllingnext

controlling

2 of 2

verb

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

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4

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
New Delhi on Tuesday relaxed rules for investments from countries sharing a land border with India, allowing automatic approval for non-controlling ownership of up to 10%, subject to compliance requirements. Shruti Srivastava, Bloomberg, 11 Mar. 2026 Rousseau is a notoriously controlling and meticulous leader, obsessed with optics and strict about the physical fitness of his members. Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 15 Dec. 2025
Verb
In late April, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued maps to international aid groups that showed the military already controlling approximately 64% of Gaza. Kevin Liptak, CNN Money, 28 May 2026 Institutions are moving from controlling information to guiding and supporting its use. Ami Bhatt, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for controlling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for controlling
Adjective
  • Among those acolytes is Lucien (Jérémy Gillet), a reedy, repressed young virgin who yearns to be part of the gay community but hasn’t the courage to come out to his domineering mother Christine (Elisabeth Wiener), who also just happens to be the country’s very right-wing health minister.
    Guy Lodge, Variety, 23 May 2026
  • Down at the bottom of the hierarchy, or really not ranked at all, is Lucien (Jérémy Gillet), a fey and cosseted twink of privilege who longs to meet Jim but is kept at home, safely away from anything gay, by his domineering mother.
    Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2026
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
  • His reporting takes him to the headquarters of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, the state agency tasked with regulating oil and gas.
    Katie Campbell, ProPublica, 2 June 2026
  • As for regulating the use of AI for mental health, a few states enacted new policies last year.
    Aria Bendix, NBC news, 1 June 2026
Verb
  • To give your skin an extra hydration boost, layer on a gentle serum containing Vitamin C and hyaluronic acid first.
    Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 28 May 2026
  • The firefighting foam containing PFAS was effective against fuel fires.
    ABC News, ABC News, 28 May 2026
Verb
  • Senegal beat Morocco to win its second continental title earlier this year, but was subsequently deemed to have forfeited the game by African football’s governing body because much of the squad had left the field after a contentious penalty call late in the game.
    Don Riddell, CNN Money, 1 June 2026
  • City officials have not shared publicly the circumstances surrounding his resignation, and the agreement governing his departure has remained secret.
    Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 1 June 2026
Verb
  • White can point to patterns and minutes restrictions, and there is a reasonable basketball explanation for managing Boston's workload.
    Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 31 May 2026
  • The Spurs’ defense was incredibly connected, aggressively rotating on and off SGA doubles and managing not to get exposed on the back end.
    William Guillory, New York Times, 31 May 2026
Adjective
  • Apes, on the other hand, have much flatter, more grasping feet, indicating that they’re better suited for climbing than for repetitive ground contact.
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2026
  • 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
Adjective
  • DeMaio has built his own particularly cogent political organization in San Diego Republican circles, according to previous reporting by CalMatters.
    Andrew Graham May 15, Sacbee.com, 16 May 2026
  • Her former colleague, Paul Michel, says Newman is clear and cogent.
    Carrie Johnson, NPR, 29 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Controlling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/controlling. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.

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