out of control
Beyond all restraint
Out of control describes something no longer governed or restrained—a situation, person, or thing that has exceeded the ability to manage it.
A car may spin out of control on ice.
A party gets out of control when guests trash the house.
The wildfire is completely out of control.
The phrase often implies escalation: what started manageable has become unmanageable.
Not controlled or limited
- unrestrainedNot held back
- unbridledWithout any restraint
- escalatingIncreasing by degrees
- spreadingExtending over space
proliferating · runaway · spiraling · snowballing · overrunning · uncontainable · unstoppable · unregulated
Violent disorder and destruction
- pandemoniumState of utter confusion
- bedlamState of wild disorder
- chaosComplete disorder and confusion
- turmoilViolent disturbance or confusion
havoc · disorder · anarchy · shambles · disarray · confusion · upheaval · catastrophe
Uncontrollable emotional excess
- maniaIntense, consuming obsession
- deliriumAcute mental disorientation
- madnessMental derangement or folly
- frenzyViolent mental agitation
rampage · fury · riot · fervor · craze · fever · agitation · ferment
Impossible to control
- ungovernableImpossible to control
- undisciplinedLacking self-control or order
- disobedientRefusing to follow orders
- defiantOpenly resisting control
rebellious · rowdy · lawless · insubordinate · wild · untamed · wayward · obstreperous
unchecked
Not controlled or limited
- unrestrainedNot held back
- unbridledWithout any restraint
- escalatingIncreasing by degrees
spreading · proliferating · runaway · spiraling · snowballing · overrunning · uncontainable · unstoppable · unregulated · raging
mayhem
Violent disorder and destruction
- pandemoniumState of utter confusion
- bedlamState of wild disorder
- chaosComplete disorder and confusion
turmoil · havoc · disorder · anarchy · shambles · disarray · confusion · upheaval · catastrophe · mess
hysteria
Uncontrollable emotional excess
- maniaIntense, consuming obsession
- deliriumAcute mental disorientation
- madnessMental derangement or folly
frenzy · rampage · fury · riot · fervor · craze · fever · agitation · ferment · flurry
unmanageable
Impossible to control
- ungovernableImpossible to control
- undisciplinedLacking self-control or order
- disobedientRefusing to follow orders
defiant · rebellious · rowdy · lawless · insubordinate · wild · untamed · wayward · obstreperous · incorrigible
- chaosmayhem, chaotic, pandemonium, bedlam, turmoil
- misbehaviormisbehave, misbehavior, mischief, misconduct, naughty
- overgrownovergrown, tangled, weedy, wild, unkempt
- SPCcenter line, centerline, common cause, subgroup, subgroups
- Captivated Statescaptivated, absorbed, engrossed, entranced, spellbound
- disorderchaos, chaotic, disarray, mess, disordered
out of controlunder control
Being successfully managed
in control · controlled · contained · managed · in hand
out of controldisciplined
Having strict self-control
self-controlled · composed · restrained · controlled · calm
out of controlunder control
Being successfully managed
stable · orderly · manageable · calm · peaceful
control, controller, controlling, self-control, uncontrollable, controls, uncontrolled, controllers, overcontrolled