control 1 of 2

noun

Definition of controlnext
1
as in power
the right or means to command or control others teachers are responsible for the students under their control

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in controller
a mechanism for adjusting the operation of a device, machine, or system the controls for the player are well marked

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3
as in grasp
the ability to direct the course of something after the tail fell off, the plane went out of the pilot's control firefighters keeping control of the blaze

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in management
the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something control of manufacturing operations was given to a new manager with fresh ideas

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5
as in ownership
the fact or state of having (something) at one's disposal took control of the process of selecting candidates for the scholarship

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

control

2 of 2

verb

kən-ˈtrōl How to pronounce control (audio)
1
as in to regulate
to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression) you must learn to control your temper

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to contain
to gain emotional or mental control of he controlled himself only with the greatest difficulty in the face of his opponent's insulting remarks

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3
as in to govern
to exercise authority or power over circumstances often control the choices we make in life

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4
as in to manage
to look after and make decisions about during the period that she controlled the company it was highly profitable

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun control contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of control are authority, command, dominion, jurisdiction, power, and sway. While all these words mean "the right to govern or rule or determine," control stresses the power to direct and restrain.

you are responsible for the students under your control

When can authority be used instead of control?

While in some cases nearly identical to control, authority implies power for a specific purpose within specified limits.

granted the authority to manage her estate

In what contexts can command take the place of control?

The words command and control are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, command implies the power to make arbitrary decisions and compel obedience.

the army officer in command

When is dominion a more appropriate choice than control?

Although the words dominion and control have much in common, dominion stresses sovereign power or supreme authority.

given dominion over all the animals

Where would jurisdiction be a reasonable alternative to control?

The meanings of jurisdiction and control largely overlap; however, jurisdiction applies to official power exercised within prescribed limits.

the bureau having jurisdiction over parks

When would power be a good substitute for control?

In some situations, the words power and control are roughly equivalent. However, power implies possession of ability to wield force, authority, or influence.

the power to mold public opinion

When might sway be a better fit than control?

While the synonyms sway and control are close in meaning, sway suggests the extent of exercised power or influence.

the empire extended its sway over the region

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of control
Noun
Lockdown may have driven some people to question one another’s reality; Eddington’s protagonist, however, seeks control of his—with violent and gory results. —David Sims, The Atlantic, 23 July 2025 Make sure the tires reconnect with the road - During the skid, wait until the tires reconnect with the road and then gently straighten the wheels to regain control. —Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 23 July 2025
Verb
The top three contributors to hydroplaning are: Vehicle speed - When a vehicle's speed increases, the tire-traction grip and ability to control the vehicle decreases. —Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 21 July 2025 Kevin Carter—Getty Images Advertisement The Commanders did not immediately issue a statement, but earlier this year, controlling owner Josh Harris said his team had no plans to change its name again. —Chad De Guzman, Time, 21 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for control
Recent Examples of Synonyms for control
  1. power
  2. controller
  3. grasp
  4. management
  5. ownership
  6. regulate
  7. contain
  8. govern
Noun
  • Wimbledon has always been the chicest of the Grand Slam tournaments, but this year’s reached a fever pitch of star power and style.
    — Leigh Nordstrom, Footwear News, 15 July 2025
  • There was still power in the dining hall, which ran on a generator, and students would gather regularly at the same time each day to discuss the state of the roads.
    — Jessica Pishko, New Yorker, 15 July 2025
Definition of power
Noun
  • Fraudsters then attempt to send spear-phishing emails that appear to originate internally, targeting an employee authorized to move money (e.g., an accountant or financial controller).
    — Sunny Banerjee, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • Intense workload increases the risk a controller will fail to anticipate events.
    — Adrienne Bernhard, Scientific American, 10 July 2025
Definition of controller
Noun
  • As the communist leader Robert Mugabe is elected, his declarations empower Africans to take up residence on the farmland, and her imperialist grasp slips, the beginning of the end for this family here.
    — Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 12 July 2025
  • The country greatly appreciated Jóhannesson’s grasp of the context and his insightful and entertaining commentary.
    — Karl Moore, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
Definition of grasp
Noun
  • The roof began going green in 2010, when the Detroit-Wayne Joint Building Authority and property management company Hines started replacing crumbling portions with sedum in the name of sustainability.
    — Violet Ikonomova, Freep.com, 21 July 2025
  • Any deals are likely to be in Goldman’s asset management arm, which oversees $3.3 trillion but doesn’t carry the same cachet as firms such as Blackstone or KKR.
    — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 21 July 2025
Definition of management
Noun
  • Co-designing automation with employees invites ownership, preserves purpose and affirms dignity—because progress without participation breeds resistance, not resilience.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
  • Observe and report to armed security Scott Keller, who in December took on the role of the Plaza’s general manager, said the new ownership group began working to improve security soon after the Plaza was purchased.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 13 July 2025
Definition of ownership
Verb
  • These entities have proliferated ever since the 2010 U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Citizens United case, which effectively struck down longtime campaign finance regulations that sought to limit and regulate spending on political campaigns.
    — M.L. Elrick, Freep.com, 21 July 2025
  • Help available for crashing out, including interventions such as therapy, as well as learning how to regulate emotions better and practicing self-care during times of significant stress.
    — Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 20 July 2025
Definition of regulate
Verb
  • This post contains minor spoilers for Happy Gilmore 2. Nearly 30 years ago, Christopher McDonald left an indelible mark on pop culture with his performance as smarmy professional golfer Shooter McGavin in the 1996 sports comedy classic Happy Gilmore.
    — Megan McCluskey, Time, 25 July 2025
  • As of Thursday afternoon, the fire crew effectively contained 92% of the wildfire.
    — CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 25 July 2025
Definition of contain
Verb
  • The same principles that govern resilient pipelines showed up in how Astronomer managed the public narrative.
    — Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 26 July 2025
  • However, experts question whether such repeals will withstand scrutiny under the Administrative Procedure Act, which governs the legal process for rescinding rules.
    — Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 July 2025
Definition of govern

Browse Nearby Words

contriving
control
controllable
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Cite this Entry

“Control.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/control. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on control

Nglish: Translation of control for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about control

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