Bossy vs. Control — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Urooj Arif — Updated on May 2, 2024
Bossy refers to a demanding, often domineering attitude, while control involves managing or directing situations or people effectively.
Difference Between Bossy and Control
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Bossy typically describes a person who is authoritative and often rudely domineering, insisting on their own way. On the other hand, control can be exercised in a more measured and responsible manner, aiming to maintain order or direct outcomes effectively.
Bossiness is often perceived negatively because it implies a lack of collaborative spirit and respect for others' opinions. Conversely, having control is generally viewed more positively, as it suggests competence and the ability to manage various aspects of life or work.
In interpersonal relationships, a bossy person might struggle with pushback from peers who feel oppressed or undervalued. Whereas, someone who maintains control might be admired for their leadership and decision-making capabilities.
In professional settings, being bossy can hinder teamwork and morale, as it often involves micro-managing and disregarding the input of others. In contrast, exercising control in such environments can lead to improved efficiency and goal achievement, reflecting strong leadership skills.
Children described as bossy may be criticized for being overly commanding among peers, which can impact their social interactions. However, children who are taught to control situations appropriately can develop leadership skills that are respected and admired by their peers.
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Comparison Chart
Connotation
Negative, domineering
Positive, authoritative
Interpersonal Impact
Often leads to resistance and resentment
Generally results in respect and compliance
Leadership Style
Autocratic, often lacks collaboration
Democratic or authoritative, encourages teamwork
Emotional Response
Can provoke irritation and opposition
Often instills confidence and security
Outcome in Teams
Can reduce morale and stifle input from team members
Enhances productivity and fosters clear direction
Compare with Definitions
Bossy
Overly authoritative and commanding.
He was known for his bossy attitude during meetings.
Control
To exercise restraint or direction over; dominate; command.
She maintained control over the project timeline efficiently.
Bossy
Inclined to dictate; domineering.
The bossy manager often made decisions without consulting the team.
Control
The ability to manage one's emotions or actions.
He showed great control during the stressful negotiation.
Bossy
Excessively controlling with little tolerance for disagreement.
His bossy instructions left no room for creative input.
Control
The power to influence or direct people's behavior or the course of events.
His control of the meeting ensured all topics were covered succinctly.
Bossy
Characterized by undue control in interpersonal relationships.
She had a bossy way of insisting everyone follow her plan.
Control
A means of limiting or regulating something.
They implemented quality control measures to improve the product.
Bossy
Assertively imposing one’s will on another without regard to their input.
Her bossy tone made her difficult to approach.
Control
Mastery, dominance, or command of a situation.
Her control of the classroom environment made her a respected teacher.
Bossy
Given to ordering others around; domineering.
Control
The power to influence or direct people's behaviour or the course of events
The whole operation is under the control of a production manager
The situation was slipping out of her control
Bossy
Decorated with raised ornaments.
Control
A person or thing used as a standard of comparison for checking the results of a survey or experiment
Platelet activity was higher in patients with the disease than in the controls
Bossy
A cow or calf.
Control
A member of an intelligence organization who personally directs the activities of a spy
He sat with his KGB control as the details of his new assignment were explained
Bossy
Tending to give orders to others, especially when unwarranted; domineering.
Control
A high card that will prevent the opponents from establishing a particular suit
He has controls in both minor suits
Bossy
Ornamented with bosses; studded.
Control
Determine the behaviour or supervise the running of
He was appointed to control the company's marketing strategy
Bossy
A cow or calf.
Control
Take into account (an extraneous factor that might affect the results of an experiment)
No attempt was made to control for variations
Bossy
Ornamented with bosses; studded.
Control
To exercise authoritative or dominating influence over; direct
The majority party controls the legislative agenda.
Bossy
A cow or calf; - familiarly so called.
Control
To adjust to a requirement; regulate
Rules that control trading on the stock market.
Valves that control the flow of water.
Bossy
Offensively self-assured or given to exercising usually unwarranted power;
An autocratic person
Autocratic behavior
A bossy way of ordering others around
A rather aggressive and dominating character
Managed the employees in an aloof magisterial way
A swaggering peremptory manner
Control
To hold in restraint; check
Struggled to control my temper.
Control
To reduce or prevent the spread of
Used a pesticide to control insects.
Controlled the fire by dousing it with water.
Control
To verify or regulate (a scientific experiment) by conducting a parallel experiment or by comparing with another standard.
Control
To verify (a financial account, for example) by using a duplicate register for comparison.
Control
Authority or ability to manage or direct
Lost control of the skidding car.
The leaders in control of the country.
Control
One that controls; a controlling agent, device, or organization.
Control
An instrument.
Control
Controls A set of such instruments.
Control
A restraining device, measure, or limit; a curb
A control on prices.
Price controls.
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
How is control different from being bossy?
Control involves managing or directing effectively, usually with some degree of consent or respect from others, unlike the unilateral imposition that marks bossiness.
Can a leader be both bossy and in control?
Yes, a leader can exhibit both qualities, but being bossy often overshadows the positive aspects of having control.
What are the benefits of having control?
Control can lead to better outcomes, such as increased productivity and clearer communication in various settings.
What are the negative outcomes of excessive control?
While control is generally positive, excessive control can lead to rigidity and reduce creative freedom.
What makes someone bossy?
Bossy individuals often feel a need to impose their authority and decisions without considering others' inputs.
How do people generally react to bossy individuals?
People may react negatively, feeling demeaned or undervalued when dealing with bossy individuals.
What is the role of control in effective leadership?
Control is crucial for effective leadership as it involves guiding teams towards achieving set goals while maintaining group cohesion.
Does being bossy affect personal relationships?
Yes, being bossy can negatively impact personal relationships, causing conflicts and resentment.
How can someone who is bossy improve their behavior?
Individuals can improve by fostering open communication, considering others' feedback, and practicing empathy.
Is bossiness a learned behavior or innate?
Bossiness can be both learned and innate, often influenced by early life experiences and personality traits.
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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.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.