This boy is a genius at controlling RC vehicles!
Source: tatoeba (406980)
Controlling
/kənˈtɹoʊlɪŋ/
Synonyms for "controlling" (185 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (37)
absoluteall-absorbingascendantat the headauthoritarianauthoritativeauthorizedautocraticbosscapitalcardinalcentralchiefchokingclothed with authoritycommandingcompetentconsequentialconsiderabledirecting
Show 1 more word
Noun(10 words)
adjustingadministratorauthoritativecoercioncontrolcontrol processcontrollercurbingdirectdirective leadership
Adjective(1 words)
Strong matches (56)
directorialdirectorydispositiondominantdousingduly constituteddyingeminentempoweredengrossingex officioextinctionforemostgeneralgoverninggreatguidingheadhegemonichegemonistic
Show 9 more words
Noun(12 words)
dominantdominationgoverngovernancegoverninggoverning bodiesgoverning bodygoverning lawgoverning ruleshenpeckingin chargeleading
Adjective(14 words)
dominant authority over studentsdominant traitgenetic elementgoverning authoritygoverning authority guidelinesgoverning authority policygoverning councilgoverning factorgoverning law clausegoverning principlegoverning principlesgoverning systemimperialisticinstructional subject
Verb(1 words)
Related words (92)
Noun(24 words)
limitmajority sharemanagingmanipulatingmanipulationmoderatingmonopolizingmore governingoperativesovercontrolownerpossessiveregulateregulatingregulationregulatory documentregulatory policyrestrictruleruling structure
Show 4 more words
Adjective(1 words)
Adjective(17 words)
manipulative influencemanipulative limbmodulatorymuzzling speechoverprotectivepaternalisticregulatory approachregulatory boardregulatory filingsregulatory frameworkregulatory guidelineregulatory mechanismsregulatory serviceregulatory systemrestrictive toneruling policyswedish reglera
Determiner(1 words)
most governing
Verb(1 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: absolute, adjusting, administrator, all-absorbing, ascendant.
- Sentence evidence is available for controlling, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, derived_reverse, opengloss.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "controlling".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "controlling"
Keep "controlling" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "controlling" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "controlling", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "controlling" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
11 entriesauthoritybehavioral traitbusiness termengineering termgoverngovernanceinfluencemanagemanagementpowerregulate
More specific
24 entriesadministerauditauthoritarianboard of directorsbossycoercioncommandcontrol devicecontrolling stakedirectiondominationexecutive teamfeedback loopmajority-ownedmanaging directormanipulation
Showing 16 of 24 words.
Collocations
11 entriescontrolling behaviorcontrolling devicecontrolling emotionscontrolling influencecontrolling interestcontrolling otherscontrolling parentcontrolling partycontrolling powercontrolling stakecontrolling the situation
Inflections
4 entriesDerivations
6 entriessimilar
1 entriesSample sentences
12 total sentences available.
Additive synthesis involves manually controlling harmonics, and uses only sine waves.
Source: tatoeba (754822)
Libyan rebels have advanced into two strategic towns controlling access to the capital from the west and the south.
Source: tatoeba (1044250)
I'm controlling myself so as not to lose my head.
Source: tatoeba (1360052)
Showing 4 of 12 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "controlling"?
Closest matches include absolute, adjusting, administrator, all-absorbing, ascendant.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "controlling"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.