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

But this behavior ultimately seems more controlling than anything else. —R. Eric Thomas, The Mercury News, 30 Nov. 2024

Insight initially invested in the startup’s $25 million round in 2017 and then acquired a controlling stake two years later for more than $780 million. —Luisa Beltran, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2024

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

Word History

First Known Use

1974, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing controlling

• controlling interest

Kids Definition

controlling

adjective

: tending to control the behavior of other people

Legal Definition

controlling

adjective

1

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.

2

: having controlling interest

controlling shareholders