Meaning & use
controlling
Trying to dominate or dictate the behavior and decisions of other people.
See it in a sentence
Her controlling boyfriend insisted on approving every outfit she wore.
Employees complained that the new manager was too controlling to allow any independence.
A note on using this word
Controlling almost always carries a negative tone, describing behavior that limits others' freedom or choices.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “controlling”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.