uncontrollable
gb/ˌʌŋkəntɹˈoʊləbəl/ us/ˌʌŋkəntɹˈoʊləbəl/
B2
English
irányíthatatlan, kezelhetetlen, megfékezhetetlen, fékezhetetlen, visszafojthatatlan, uralhatatlan, kontrollálhatatlan
B2
1
Usage pattern:
uncontrollable [situation/problem/fire/behavior]
The small kitchen fire quickly became uncontrollable.
A kis konyhatűz gyorsan irányíthatatlanná vált.
Without clear rules, the discussion turned uncontrollable and everyone started shouting.
Világos szabályok nélkül a vita irányíthatatlanná vált, és mindenki kiabálni kezdett.
The costs are rising at an uncontrollable rate.
Learner examples
The dog became uncontrollable.
A kutya irányíthatatlanná vált.
The fire was uncontrollable.
A tüzet nem lehetett megfékezni.
Common mistake:
Do not confuse with uncontrolled (often means not regulated or not kept in check); uncontrollable emphasizes that control is not possible.
Meaning
not able to be controlled
Collocations
uncontrollable situation
|uncontrollable problem
|uncontrollable behavior
|uncontrollable violence
|uncontrollable fire
|uncontrollable growth
|uncontrollable costs
|uncontrollable spread
|uncontrollable mess
|become uncontrollable
Synonyms
unmanageable (Emphasizes being too difficult to manage in practice.)
|
out of control (More conversational; often used predicatively.)
|
unstoppable (Focuses on not being able to stop something once it has started.)
Antonyms
controllable (Able to be controlled or managed.)
|
manageable (Able to be dealt with successfully.)
Themes
daily_life
|problems
|risk
Definition
Not possible to control or manage.
Impossible to control, manage, or keep within limits.
B2
2
Usage pattern:
uncontrollable [anger/laughter/crying/tears/shaking]
She burst into uncontrollable laughter during the quiet meeting.
A csendes megbeszélésen fékezhetetlen nevetésben tört ki.
He felt uncontrollable anger when he saw the damage.
Amikor meglátta a károkat, fékezhetetlen dühöt érzett.
The movie left him in uncontrollable tears.
Learner examples
I had uncontrollable laughter.
Fékezhetetlen nevetőgörcsöm volt.
She started uncontrollable crying.
Fékezhetetlenül sírni kezdett.
Common mistake:
Uncontrollable describes the emotion/reaction itself (uncontrollable laughter), not the person (not *an uncontrollable person* in this sense).
Meaning
impossible to stop feeling
Collocations
uncontrollable laughter
|uncontrollable tears
|uncontrollable crying
|uncontrollable sobbing
|uncontrollable anger
|uncontrollable fear
|uncontrollable giggling
|uncontrollable shaking
|uncontrollable excitement
|an uncontrollable reaction
Synonyms
irrepressible (Suggests an emotion/reaction that keeps breaking out despite attempts to hold it back.)
|
overwhelming (Emphasizes the strength of the feeling more than the lack of control.)
|
involuntary (Highlights that it happens without conscious choice.)
Antonyms
controlled (Kept within limits or not openly shown.)
|
restrained (Held back deliberately.)
Themes
emotions
|health
Definition
So strong that you cannot stop it.
So strong that it cannot be stopped or kept from being shown, especially of an emotion or reaction.
C1
3
Usage pattern:
uncontrollable [movement/twitching/spasms/pain]
The patient developed uncontrollable shaking after the injection.
A betegnél az injekció után uralhatatlan remegés jelentkezett.
He went to the doctor because of uncontrollable twitching in his eyelid.
A szemhéjában jelentkező kontrollálhatatlan rángás miatt ment orvoshoz.
The medication reduced the symptoms, but the coughing was still uncontrollable at night.
Learner examples
He had uncontrollable shaking.
Uralhatatlan remegése volt.
The pain was uncontrollable.
A fájdalom kontrollálhatatlan volt.
Common mistake:
In medical contexts, uncontrollable often means symptoms cannot be controlled (for example, by treatment), not simply that they are strong.
Meaning
not under voluntary control
Collocations
uncontrollable shaking
|uncontrollable twitching
|uncontrollable spasms
|uncontrollable movements
|uncontrollable tremor
|uncontrollable pain
|uncontrollable coughing
|uncontrollable bleeding
|uncontrollable seizures
|uncontrollable symptoms
Synonyms
involuntary (Standard term for movements not controlled by choice.)
|
unregulated (More about a process that is not controlled by normal mechanisms.)
Antonyms
voluntary (Done by choice and under conscious control.)
|
treatable (Able to be controlled or improved with treatment.)
Themes
health
|medical
Definition
Happening in your body that you cannot control.
Not able to be controlled by the will, especially of a bodily movement, symptom, or condition.
Grammar
Dictionary form
uncontrollable
IPA
GB/ˌʌŋkəntɹˈoʊləbəl/
US/ˌʌŋkəntɹˈoʊləbəl/
Syllables & stress
un - con - trol - lable (4 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (trol)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: uncontrollable
Expressions
an uncontrollable urge to [do something]
1/ən ˌʌŋkəntɹˈoʊləbəl ˈɚd͡ʒ tə dˈu sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
strong desire you can't resist
A very strong feeling that makes you want to do something.
Examples
- He had an uncontrollable urge to check his phone every few minutes.
- I felt an uncontrollable urge to laugh in the middle of the ceremony.
- She fought an uncontrollable urge to reply immediately.
Learner examples
- I had an uncontrollable urge to eat chocolate.
burst into uncontrollable laughter
1/bˈɚst ˈɪntu ˌʌŋkəntɹˈoʊləbəl lˈæftɚ/
fixed phrase
suddenly start laughing hard
To start laughing and not be able to stop.
Examples
- He burst into uncontrollable laughter when he saw the costume.
- I tried to stay serious, but I burst into uncontrollable laughter.
- They burst into uncontrollable laughter at the worst possible moment.
Learner examples
- She burst into uncontrollable laughter.