uncontrollable
gb/ˌʌŋkəntɹˈoʊləbəl/ us/ˌʌŋkəntɹˈoʊləbəl/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
not able to be controlled
Not possible to control or manage.
Usage pattern:
uncontrollable [situation/problem/fire/behavior]
Common mistake:
Do not confuse with uncontrolled (often means not regulated or not kept in check); uncontrollable emphasizes that control is not possible.
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.)
Collocations
uncontrollable situation
|uncontrollable problem
|uncontrollable behavior
|uncontrollable violence
|uncontrollable fire
|uncontrollable growth
|uncontrollable costs
|uncontrollable spread
|uncontrollable mess
|become uncontrollable
Themes
daily_life
|problems
|risk
Examples
- The small kitchen fire quickly became uncontrollable.
- Without clear rules, the discussion turned uncontrollable and everyone started shouting.
- The costs are rising at an uncontrollable rate.
Learner examples
- The dog became uncontrollable.
- The fire was uncontrollable.
adjective
B2
property
2
impossible to stop feeling
So strong that you cannot stop it.
Usage pattern:
uncontrollable [anger/laughter/crying/tears/shaking]
Common mistake:
Uncontrollable describes the emotion/reaction itself (uncontrollable laughter), not the person (not *an uncontrollable person* in this sense).
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.)
Collocations
uncontrollable laughter
|uncontrollable tears
|uncontrollable crying
|uncontrollable sobbing
|uncontrollable anger
|uncontrollable fear
|uncontrollable giggling
|uncontrollable shaking
|uncontrollable excitement
|an uncontrollable reaction
Themes
emotions
|health
Examples
- She burst into uncontrollable laughter during the quiet meeting.
- He felt uncontrollable anger when he saw the damage.
- The movie left him in uncontrollable tears.
Learner examples
- I had uncontrollable laughter.
- She started uncontrollable crying.
adjective
C1
property
3
not under voluntary control
Happening in your body that you cannot control.
Usage pattern:
uncontrollable [movement/twitching/spasms/pain]
Common mistake:
In medical contexts, uncontrollable often means symptoms cannot be controlled (for example, by treatment), not simply that they are strong.
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.)
Collocations
uncontrollable shaking
|uncontrollable twitching
|uncontrollable spasms
|uncontrollable movements
|uncontrollable tremor
|uncontrollable pain
|uncontrollable coughing
|uncontrollable bleeding
|uncontrollable seizures
|uncontrollable symptoms
Themes
health
|medical
Examples
- The patient developed uncontrollable shaking after the injection.
- He went to the doctor because of uncontrollable twitching in his eyelid.
- The medication reduced the symptoms, but the coughing was still uncontrollable at night.
Learner examples
- He had uncontrollable shaking.
- The pain was uncontrollable.
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.
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.