as in controlling
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.
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Recent Examples of micromanaging
Angie Katsanevas, who loves brand names, beauty and micromanaging her family, swaps lives with off-the-grid homesteader and former Mormon Lindsay Flake, whose family lives without electricity, running water and rules.
—
Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 16 Sep. 2025
Kids desperately want to be able to explore and play without adults micromanaging them, Skenazy says.
—Charlotte Alter, Time, 5 Sep. 2025
The incessant crackdowns, and the campaigns of censorship or censoriousness, suggest that the Chinese regime is intent on not just eliminating opposition, but also micromanaging its people’s lifestyles, consumption, and beliefs.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 26 Aug. 2025
That doesn’t mean burning out or micromanaging every detail.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 24 Aug. 2025
This resulted in a tendency to be highly active as parents of college students, which included some parents micromanaging their students.
—Eric Wood, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025
Don't talk about trust while micromanaging.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 16 Sep. 2025
Kids desperately want to be able to explore and play without adults micromanaging them, Skenazy says.
—Charlotte Alter, Time, 5 Sep. 2025
The incessant crackdowns, and the campaigns of censorship or censoriousness, suggest that the Chinese regime is intent on not just eliminating opposition, but also micromanaging its people’s lifestyles, consumption, and beliefs.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 26 Aug. 2025
That doesn’t mean burning out or micromanaging every detail.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 24 Aug. 2025
This resulted in a tendency to be highly active as parents of college students, which included some parents micromanaging their students.
—Eric Wood, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025
Don't talk about trust while micromanaging.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for micromanaging
Verb
-
Dutch Bros 'controlling this corner,' Uncle Bill's says Dutch Bros was created in 1992 in Grants Pass, Oregon, by brothers Dane and Travis Boersma.—
Patricia Gallagher Newberry,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Return slowly on an inhale, controlling the resistance.—
Dana Santas,
CNN Money,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Don Lisi, Rogers Police Department spokesman, said police investigate cases involving virtual currency scams on a regular basis, and the department is currently handling a couple of such cases.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Louisville police's Traffic Unit is handling the ongoing investigation.—
Matthew Glowicki,
Louisville Courier Journal,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
But those plans can be quite narrow and ineffective for addressing flood damage.—
Tamia Fowlkes,
jsonline.com,
6 Oct. 2025
-
The document aims to provide clarity and accuracy in reporting, addressing contemporary issues and nuanced terminology with precision and sensitivity.—
Nashville Tennessean,
Nashville Tennessean,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
With the technology becoming increasingly adept at creating convincing crowd scenes, manipulating visuals has never been easier.—
Chloe Veltman,
NPR,
3 Oct. 2025
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Julie asked Jimmy Heagerty about where things stood with Mickey Lee, and Jimmy said Morgan did a great job manipulating Mickey into sending him home.—
David Wysong,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
While major pro sports leagues feature a stable arrangement, with unionized players negotiating a CBA and collectively bargained terms exempt from antitrust scrutiny, the opposite is true in college sports.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
4 Oct. 2025
-
The official also said that a negotiating team was getting ready to travel, but there was no date specified.—
Jessica Coacci,
Fortune,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Some genres may be extremely violent and gory, so parents may want to consider supervising their children's viewing of films or avoid them altogether.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Advertisement Concerns about damage to parks Former park officials and advocates have expressed fear that protected land will be damaged by visitors if sites are left partially open while thousands of workers are furloughed or fired, and therefore absent from supervising lands.—
Connor Greene,
Time,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Hughes and others began resisting orders in passive ways, showing up late or taking patrols extra slowly.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
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Still, the two main budget bills easily passed both chambers and were sent to the governor before the Senate took up the marijuana tax legislation, taking the bite out of Hall's threat.—
Paul Egan,
Freep.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Containment is part of a larger plan for managing a wildfire.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Pumpkin seed oil may have many health benefits, including boosting skin, hair, and heart health and managing menopause symptoms.—
Mark Gurarie,
Health,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Micromanaging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/micromanaging. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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