controlled

American  

[kuhn-trohld] / kənˈtroʊld /

adjective

1. held in check; curbed.

   poorly controlled anger.

2. carefully regulated, tested, or verified.

   a controlled experiment.

3. (of a drug) restricted by law as to possession and use.

   Morphine is a controlled drug.

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Etymology

Origin of controlled

First recorded in 1580–90; control ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Explanation

Something that's controlled is kept in check or restrained. Your controlled laughter in math class won't get you in trouble, because it's muted and calm. Some people really blow their stacks when they get angry, while others express a controlled anger, calmly explaining their frustration. The ability to keep your emotions controlled is a useful one. A different meaning of controlled is "restricted by law," — many medications and drugs are classified as "controlled substances. The root of both controlled and control is the Latin contrarotulus, "a register, counter, or record of something."

Example Sentences

It also claims Replimune defied FDA advice in March 2021 to run a randomized controlled trial.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

This idea of self-contained escape has become a defining feature of recent travel patterns, with short domestic breaks offering a controlled and often more affordable alternative to longer holidays abroad.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

The reconstituted group largely abandoned the framework, allowing the committee to judge evidence of dubious quality alongside large randomized controlled trials.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

Understanding how mitochondrial pearling works and how it is controlled could provide important insights into diseases linked to mtDNA.

From Science Daily • Apr. 13, 2026

Hitler controlled all aspects of their lives, including their leisure time.

From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple

Related Words

• measured
• ordered
• orderly
• organized
• structured
• supervised