Domination vs. Control — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Published on October 29, 2023
Domination implies overpowering or ruling over others, often by force, while control refers to the power to influence, direct, or manage.
Difference Between Domination and Control
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Domination and control are both concepts related to power and influence, but they manifest in distinct ways. Domination often carries a more aggressive or assertive connotation, suggesting a situation where one entity exerts overwhelming power or influence over another, often without the latter's consent.
Control, conversely, is a broader term that denotes the ability to direct, manage, or influence. While domination implies a lack of choice or freedom for those being dominated, control can exist without such implications. A person can have control over their emotions, or a manager might control the workflow of a team.
Further diving into nuances, domination often implies a certain imbalance, where one side possesses significantly more power or influence. Think of historical examples where one nation dominated another or situations where one group holds disproportionate power over another.
In contrast, control might be mutual or consensual. For instance, in certain systems or structures, individuals willingly relinquish some control for the greater good or for more excellent stability. Traffic rules are a prime example: drivers cede some control over their driving actions to ensure safety for all.
To encapsulate, while both domination and control speak to power dynamics, the former leans more towards overpowering and ruling, while the latter centers around direction, management, and influence.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Definition
Overpowering or ruling over others.
Power to influence, direct, or manage.
Implication
Often non-consensual.
Can be mutual or consensual.
Balance
Implies an imbalance of power.
Doesn't necessarily imply imbalance.
Context
More aggressive or forceful situations.
Broader situations of direction or influence.
Nature
Assertive and overwhelming.
Can be subtle or direct.
Compare with Definitions
Domination
The act of overpowering or ruling.
The empire's domination over the continent was unchallenged.
Control
The power to influence or direct.
He took control of the meeting's agenda.
Domination
Exerting superior influence or force.
The team's domination in the league was evident.
Control
Ability to manage or govern.
She had remarkable control over her team.
Domination
Overwhelming control or influence.
The brand's domination in the market deterred competitors.
Control
Restraining or regulating force.
The control measures ensured the project's success.
Domination
Ascendancy achieved through force or coercion.
The general sought domination through relentless campaigns.
Control
Mastery over an aspect or domain.
His control over the language made him a sought-after translator.
Domination
Having a commanding presence.
Her domination in the boardroom was unmatched.
Control
The act of holding command.
The government has control over national resources.
Domination
Control or power over another or others.
Control
To exercise authoritative or dominating influence over; direct
The majority party controls the legislative agenda.
Domination
The exercise of such control or power.
Control
To adjust to a requirement; regulate
Rules that control trading on the stock market.
Valves that control the flow of water.
Domination
Dominations(Christianity) The fourth of the nine orders of angels in medieval angelology. Also called dominions.
Control
To hold in restraint; check
Struggled to control my temper.
Domination
Control by means of superior ability, influence, position, or resources; prevailing force.
Control
To reduce or prevent the spread of
Used a pesticide to control insects.
Controlled the fire by dousing it with water.
Domination
The exercise of power in ruling; sovereignty; authority; government.
Control
To verify or regulate (a scientific experiment) by conducting a parallel experiment or by comparing with another standard.
Domination
(Christianity) A dominion; an angel from a high order of angels in the celestial hierarchy.
Control
To verify (a financial account, for example) by using a duplicate register for comparison.
Domination
(topology) cover
Control
Authority or ability to manage or direct
Lost control of the skidding car.
The leaders in control of the country.
Domination
The act of dominating; exercise of power in ruling; dominion; supremacy; authority; often, arbitrary or insolent sway.
In such a people, the haughtiness of domination combines with the spirit of freedom.
Control
One that controls; a controlling agent, device, or organization.
Domination
A ruling party; a party in power.
Control
An instrument.
Domination
A high order of angels in the celestial hierarchy; - a meaning given by the schoolmen.
Thrones, dominations, princedoms, virtues, powers.
Control
Controls A set of such instruments.
Domination
Social control by dominating
Control
A restraining device, measure, or limit; a curb
A control on prices.
Price controls.
Domination
Power to dominate or defeat;
Mastery of the seas
Control
A standard of comparison for checking or verifying the results of a scientific experiment.
Control
An individual or group used as a standard of comparison in a scientific experiment, as a group of subjects given an inactive substance in an experiment testing a new drug administered to another group of subjects.
Control
An intelligence agent who supervises or instructs another agent.
Control
A spirit presumed to speak or act through a medium.
Control
(transitive) To exercise influence over; to suggest or dictate the behavior of.
With a simple remote, he could control the toy truck.
Control
(construed with for) To design (an experiment) so that the effects of one or more variables are reduced or eliminated.
Control
To verify the accuracy of (something or someone, especially a financial account) by comparison with another account.
Control
To call to account, to take to task, to challenge.
Control
(transitive) To hold in check, to curb, to restrain.
Control
Influence or authority over something.
The government has complete control over the situation.
Control
The method and means of governing the performance of any apparatus, machine or system, such as a lever, handle or button.
Control
Restraint or ability to contain one's movements or emotions, or self-control.
Control
A security mechanism, policy, or procedure that can counter system attack, reduce risks, and resolve vulnerabilities; a safeguard or countermeasure.
Control
(project management) A means of monitoring for, and triggering intervention in, activities that are not going according to plan.
Control
A control group or control experiment.
Control
A duplicate book, register, or account, kept to correct or check another account or register.
Control
(graphical user interface) An interface element that a computer user interacts with, such as a window or a text box Ctrl.
Control
(climatology) Any of the physical factors determining the climate of a place, such as latitude, distribution of land and water, altitude, exposure, prevailing winds, permanent high- or low-barometric-pressure areas, ocean currents, mountain barriers, soil, and vegetation.
Control
(linguistics) A construction in which the understood subject of a given predicate is determined by an expression in context. See control.
Control
A spirit that takes possession of a psychic or medium and allows other spirits to communicate with the living.
Control
A checkpoint along an audax route.
Control
A duplicate book, register, or account, kept to correct or check another account or register; a counter register.
Control
That which serves to check, restrain, or hinder; restraint.
Control
Power or authority to check or restrain; restraining or regulating influence; superintendence; government; as, children should be under parental control.
The House of Commons should exercise a control over all the departments of the executive administration.
Control
The complete apparatus used to control a mechanism or machine in operation, as a flying machine in flight;
Control
Any of the physical factors determining the climate of any particular place, as latitude,distribution of land and water, altitude, exposure, prevailing winds, permanent high- or low-barometric-pressure areas, ocean currents, mountain barriers, soil, and vegetation.
Control
In research, an object or subject used in an experimental procedure, which is treated identically to the primary subject of the experiment, except for the omission of the specific treatment or conditions whose effect is being investigated. If the control is a group of living organisms, as is common in medical research, it is called the control group.
Control
The part of an experimental procedure in which the controls{6} are subjected to the experimental conditions.
Control
The group of technical specialists exercising control by remote communications over a distant operation, such as a space flight; as, the American Mission Control for manned flights is located in Houston.
Control
To check by a counter register or duplicate account; to prove by counter statements; to confute.
This report was controlled to be false.
Control
To exercise restraining or governing influence over; to check; to counteract; to restrain; to regulate; to govern; to overpower.
Give me a staff of honor for mine age,But not a scepter to control the world.
I feel my virtue struggling in my soul:But stronger passion does its power control.
Control
To assure the validity of an experimental procedure by using a control{7}.
Control
Power to direct or determine;
Under control
Control
A relation of constraint of one entity (thing or person or group) by another;
Measures for the control of disease
They instituted controls over drinking on campus
Control
(physiology) regulation or maintenance of a function or action or reflex etc;
The timing and control of his movements were unimpaired
He had lost control of his sphincters
Control
A standard against which other conditions can be compared in a scientific experiment;
The control condition was inappropriate for the conclusions he wished to draw
Control
The activity of managing or exerting control over something;
The control of the mob by the police was admirable
Control
The state that exists when one person or group has power over another;
Her apparent dominance of her husband was really her attempt to make him pay attention to her
Control
Discipline in personal and social activities;
He was a model of polite restraint
She never lost control of herself
Control
Great skillfulness and knowledge of some subject or activity;
A good command of French
Control
The economic policy of controlling or limiting or curbing prices or wages etc.;
They wanted to repeal all the legislation that imposed economic controls
Control
A mechanism that controls the operation of a machine;
The speed control on his turntable was not working properly
I turned the controls over to her
Control
A spiritual agency that is assumed to assist the medium during a seance
Control
Exercise authoritative control or power over;
Control the budget
Command the military forces
Control
Lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits;
Moderate your alcohol intake
Hold your tongue
Hold your temper
Control your anger
Control
Handle and cause to function;
Do not operate machinery after imbibing alcohol
Control the lever
Control
Control (others or oneself) or influence skillfully, usually to one's advantage;
She manipulates her boss
She is a very controlling mother and doesn't let her children grow up
The teacher knew how to keep the class in line
She keeps in line
Control
Verify or regulate by conducting a parallel experiment or comparing with another standard, of scientific experiments;
Are you controlling for the temperature?
Control
Verify by using a duplicate register for comparison;
Control an account
Control
Be careful or certain to do something; make certain of something;
He verified that the valves were closed
See that the curtains are closed
Control the quality of the product
Control
Have a firm understanding or knowledge of; be on top of;
Do you control these data?
Common Curiosities
Does domination always imply an imbalance of power?
Typically, domination suggests a noticeable power imbalance.
Can control be mutual?
Yes, control can be mutual or consensual in many situations.
Is domination always forceful?
Often, but not always; it primarily implies overpowering or having significant influence.
Does every ruler exercise domination?
Not necessarily. A ruler might have control without dominating aggressively.
Is domination always negative?
Not inherently, but it often carries a more aggressive or assertive connotation.
Can someone have control over emotions?
Yes, control can refer to managing or directing one's feelings.
Can a country be under the domination of another?
Yes, historically, countries have been dominated or controlled by more powerful nations.
Does control always mean physical power?
No, control can refer to influence, direction, or management in various contexts.
Is domination always visible?
Not always. Some forms of domination can be subtle or systemic.
Can control refer to mastery of a skill?
Yes, having control can mean possessing expertise or mastery in a domain.
Are domination and control always related to power?
Largely, both terms revolve around power dynamics, but their implications and contexts can vary.
Can a brand's popularity be termed as domination?
Yes, if a brand has overwhelming influence or presence in the market, it can be seen as domination.
Can control exist without domination?
Absolutely. Control can be about direction or management without overpowering.
Can someone have control in a consensual relationship?
Yes, partners can willingly cede control in certain aspects of a relationship.
Is self-control a form of domination?
Not exactly. Self-control refers to managing oneself, while domination often pertains to exerting power over others.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Natural Selection vs. Artificial Selection
Next Comparison
Zodiac Sign vs. HoroscopeAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
