as in controlled
chiefly US
to try to oversee all the small parts of (something, such as an activity) in a way that is usually not wanted or that causes problems
He micromanaged every detail of the budget.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of micromanaged
What once was an obstacle to allowing others to help, has come under new management, finally allowing the rest of the family to jump in on the action without fear of being micromanaged.
—
Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2025
Allen even complained that he was being micromanaged about a week before the Tamarac murders.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 20 Sep. 2025
Workers who are micromanaged report nearly double the stress compared with non-micromanaged workers, according to the 2023 Work in America Survey.
—Julia Sullivan, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2025
Their words painted a portrait of someone who micromanaged, monopolized the spotlight and rarely recognized individual contributions.
—Bill Koch, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2025
Allen even complained that he was being micromanaged about a week before the Tamarac murders.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 20 Sep. 2025
Workers who are micromanaged report nearly double the stress compared with non-micromanaged workers, according to the 2023 Work in America Survey.
—Julia Sullivan, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2025
Their words painted a portrait of someone who micromanaged, monopolized the spotlight and rarely recognized individual contributions.
—Bill Koch, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for micromanaged
Verb
-
Thick or coarse hair becomes more controlled without needing grease or gel.—
Justin Fenner,
Robb Report,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The drones can also be controlled by a pilot.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Lensed on 16mm by Frimmel, who handled DP duties, while Covi is credited as both screenwriter and co-editor, the film has a grainy old-school look that adds to the general sense of time gone by.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Feb. 2026
-
In 2019, Ito admitted to concealing financial ties to Epstein and stepped down amid backlash over how donations were handled and characterized.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Both reflect on their experience and say they felt manipulated and vulnerable.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Do not let our youth be manipulated by agents of chaos into participating in protests, jeopardizing their education and future.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
If these issues can be addressed/met, then this new battery could have some legs.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Related Stories In the interview with Ultimate Classic Rock, Cain addressed the possibility of Perry making a surprise appearance at a show on tour, putting it into the realm of strong possibility.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Unlike their peers in other major leagues, NBA players can invest in sports gambling companies and advertise for them, a right negotiated in the 2023 collective bargaining agreement.—
Mike Vorkunov,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2026
-
In recent weeks, Baker McKenzie, a white-shoe law firm, axed 700 employees, Salesforce sacked hundreds of workers, and the auditing firm KPMG negotiated lower fees with its own auditor.—
Annie Lowrey,
The Atlantic,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Animation is supervised by Jakub Pištecký, whose credits include Rango, Pirates of the Caribbean, and The Avengers.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Each exercise session was supervised and followed a clear structure, Muotri says.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
After independence, more banks regulated by individual states, if at all, were established.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Authored the Cultivate Texas Act—responsible adult legalization (age 21+, regulated like alcohol, strict youth prevention/testing) generating billions for property tax elimination and schools.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Once the blocks and spires of Palma faded into the distance, the 25-minute drive from the airport took me past crumbling homes, fields of curious farm animals, and not a soul in sight for miles at a time.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Giggs took the games seriously and was usually on the winning side.—
Andy Mitten,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Micromanaged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/micromanaged. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
