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

Opening the batting is hard and he looked controlled.

From BBC • Jun. 7, 2026

Dollar flows from oil are now controlled by the U.S. and audited by KPMG.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026

Published in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum, the new study combined findings from 16 systematic reviews, 113 randomized controlled trials, and nearly 8,000 participants from around the world.

From Science Daily • Jun. 5, 2026

El Dorado is controlled by a gangster known only by his first name, Fabio, a Pablo Escobar-type character who has ingratiated himself with locals through acts of charity.

From Barron's • Jun. 4, 2026

In fact, their only images have been produced under carefully controlled laboratory conditions that tell us more about the experimenter than they do about art.

From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson

Related Words

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