controlled
Americanadjective
-
held in check; curbed.
poorly controlled anger.
-
carefully regulated, tested, or verified.
a controlled experiment.
-
(of a drug) restricted by law as to possession and use.
Morphine is a controlled drug.
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Laika is independently controlled, so it can take “bigger risks,” Dixon said, and the outcome could reach well beyond one studio.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2026
The researchers controlled for alternative factors that could explain their results, such as education, extroversion and gender.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026
At the start of October, pro-government forces launched a major offensive that aims to retake territory in western Yemen that is controlled by the Houthis.
From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026
The procedure involves surgically placing electrodes inside the brain to deliver controlled electrical signals to circuits involved in depression.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 18, 2026
The controlled binding and unbinding of iron and oxygen—the cyclical rusting and unrusting of blood—allows effective oxygen delivery into tissues.
From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
