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

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

A miscalculation could shift the system from controlled disruption to open conflict, in which infrastructure becomes a target rather than a signaling device.

From The Wall Street Journal • 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

The global study, called KARDIA-2, included 663 adults with high blood pressure that was not well controlled with their usual medications.

From Science Daily • Apr. 13, 2026

Again he turned lividly pale; but, as before, controlled his passion perfectly.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

Related Words

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