controlling
adjective
con·trol·ling
kən-ˈtrō-liŋ 
: inclined to control others' behavior : domineering
Examples of controlling in a Sentence
She is very strict and controlling.
The larger bank remained the controlling party when it took over the smaller banks.
He paid over 40 million dollars for a controlling interest in the company.
Recent Examples on the Web
Over two years later, in May 2024, Rigby was sentenced to 20 months in prison (suspended for two years) after pleading guilty to coercive and controlling behavior.
—
Bailey Richards, People.com, 13 Oct. 2024
The show’s other villains are its husbands and boyfriends, who are either very controlling or just downright shady.
—Anna Tingley, Variety, 12 Sep. 2024
Some readers were also unsettled by her comments about childbirth and her husband’s role in their traditional family dynamic, which some felt portrayed an overly controlling situation.
—Maddie Garfinkle, Peoplemag, 30 July 2024
The Dallas Mavericks could also be looking for a new home as Mark Cuban, the former controlling owner of the team, has frequently alluded to network changes since selling the team to Miriam Adelson last season.
—Jason Clinkscales, Sportico.com, 7 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for controlling 
Bailey Richards, People.com, 13 Oct. 2024
The show’s other villains are its husbands and boyfriends, who are either very controlling or just downright shady.
—Anna Tingley, Variety, 12 Sep. 2024
Some readers were also unsettled by her comments about childbirth and her husband’s role in their traditional family dynamic, which some felt portrayed an overly controlling situation.
—Maddie Garfinkle, Peoplemag, 30 July 2024
The Dallas Mavericks could also be looking for a new home as Mark Cuban, the former controlling owner of the team, has frequently alluded to network changes since selling the team to Miriam Adelson last season.
—Jason Clinkscales, Sportico.com, 7 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for controlling
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'controlling.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near controlling
Cite this Entry
“Controlling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/controlling. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
controlling
adjective1
a
: exercising domination or influence
the controlling principles of law
b
: dispositive
judgment debtor's stipulation to pay a specified amount is not controlling—J. H. Friedenthal et al.
J. H. Friedenthal et al.2
: having controlling interest
controlling shareholders
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