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
His fiancée is extremely controlling and has him on a very short tether.
—
Amy Dickinson, The Mercury News, 3 May 2024
The novel coaxes us to cheer on Annie’s limitless technological potential as one woman’s self-actualization and to register Doug’s concerns about A.I. as symptoms of a controlling personality.
—Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for controlling 
Amy Dickinson, The Mercury News, 3 May 2024
The novel coaxes us to cheer on Annie’s limitless technological potential as one woman’s self-actualization and to register Doug’s concerns about A.I. as symptoms of a controlling personality.
—Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 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 29 May. 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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