micromanage

verb

mi·​cro·​man·​age ˌmī-krō-ˈma-nij How to pronounce micromanage (audio)
micromanaged; micromanaging; micromanages
Synonyms of micromanagenext

transitive verb

: 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

intransitive verb

: 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
micromanagement noun
micromanager noun

Examples of micromanage in a Sentence

He micromanaged every detail of the budget.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Don’t waste energy trying to micromanage every outcome. Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 11 May 2026 Instead, Putin spends more time in underground bunkers micromanaging his war, paranoid about a coup or an assassination attempt by Ukrainian drones, sources told the Financial Times. Jason Ma, Fortune, 9 May 2026 The key was not to micromanage them. Jenny B. Fine, Footwear News, 8 May 2026 But jurors were told their relationship quickly soured, with Fahim apparently frustrated at the level of work that Cuomo was assigning him and complaining that he was being micromanaged. Sean Emery, Oc Register, 7 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for micromanage

Word History

First Known Use

1976, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of micromanage was in 1976

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Cite this Entry

“Micromanage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/micromanage. Accessed 17 May. 2026.

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