micromanage
verb
mi·cro·man·age
ˌmī-krō-ˈma-nij 
micromanaged; micromanaging; micromanages
: to manage especially with excessive control or attention to small matters that is not wanted or causes problems
likes to micromanage every detail of the budget
: to direct or conduct the activities of a group or an enterprise by micromanaging them
Your team members … want to develop and self-direct. If you micromanage, they can't demonstrate their competence …—
Lisa Zigarmi
Lisa ZigarmiExamples of micromanage in a Sentence
He micromanaged every detail of the budget.
Recent Examples on the Web
The coach wants more out of him, but late in the game, Johnson not only doesn’t have to micromanage his QB.
—Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
The good news is that creating a framework that lets people use their judgment is far simpler than trying to micromanage daily decisions.
—Philip K. Howard, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2026
The company also argued the shareholder proposal amounts to micromanaging day-to-day operations.
—Mike Schneider, Fortune, 8 Dec. 2025
Both distrust markets, both want to micromanage industry, both are protectionist, both romanticize manufacturing work and resent the disruptions that come from open global competition.
—Veronique De Rugy, Oc Register, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for micromanage
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Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
The good news is that creating a framework that lets people use their judgment is far simpler than trying to micromanage daily decisions.
—Philip K. Howard, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2026
The company also argued the shareholder proposal amounts to micromanaging day-to-day operations.
—Mike Schneider, Fortune, 8 Dec. 2025
Both distrust markets, both want to micromanage industry, both are protectionist, both romanticize manufacturing work and resent the disruptions that come from open global competition.
—Veronique De Rugy, Oc Register, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for micromanage
Cite this Entry
“Micromanage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/micromanage. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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