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

They were part-time, locally controlled forces, composed of citizens who could be called up in emergencies and then returned to civilian life.

From Slate • Apr. 15, 2026

The results suggest that introducing controlled variability into movement patterns may improve flow in many real-world systems, from factory floors to city streets.

From Science Daily • Apr. 15, 2026

It would take several years to run the randomized controlled trial that the FDA is demanding.

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

As the campaign of 1880 began, the Democratic Party controlled the majority of votes in the South.

From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow

Related Words

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