MICROMANAGING Synonyms: 46 Similar and Opposite Words

micromanaging

verb

present participle of micromanage

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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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 micromanaging Avoid micromanaging; instead, delegate tasks, show confidence in others, and encourage them to do their best. — Terri Eagle, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026 The document itself is an odd grab-bag of micromanaging grant processes, assertion of presidential power, and airing of cultural grievances. — ArsTechnica, 29 May 2026 Hollywood became Hollywood long before Sacramento began micromanaging economic development. — Will Swaim, Oc Register, 13 May 2026 And while Meta’s future looks more uncertain than ever, Zuckerberg has turned his attention towards building a photorealistic AI clone of himself to make his micromanaging presence omnipresent throughout the company. — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 13 May 2026 Fahim, a financial analyst, was reportedly frustrated by the amount of work Cuomo would assign him, and had claimed Cuomo was micromanaging him. — Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 12 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 That didn’t appear to be the case in this instance; this was personal animosity—a secretary who was micromanaging personnel decisions in the Army, looking to put his own stamp on that service. — Adam Harris, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2026 Instead of micromanaging every finger, humans provide high-level input while the AI handles coordination. — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 30 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for micromanaging

Verb

The company has also said that controlling the chip, domain controller and underlying software stack could help reduce component costs as production volumes increase.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026
Japanese doctors have advised patients reporting rashes or difficulty controlling bowels after frequent use to stop until symptoms clear, per the AP.

— Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of controlling

Verb

What those reviews don't capture is the proportion of bookings that complete without incident, which, across platforms handling millions of reservations annually, is considerably higher than review distributions suggest.

— Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
Wash hands after handling any pet food and keep children away from pet food dishes and treats.

— Kimberly Baker, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of handling

Verb

Surrogacy agreements can include provisions addressing what happens if prenatal testing reveals a serious fetal abnormality, but those provisions do not necessarily give intended parents the power to force a surrogate to terminate a pregnancy.

— Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
The Governor’s Task Force on Early Childhood Education and Care and the Quad Agency Child Care Initiative were created last year by lawmakers to start addressing the gaps and fractures in the state’s childcare system.

— Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of addressing

Verb

Last Wednesday, Meta reached a settlement with the attorneys general of forty-seven states, who had sued it for illegally manipulating the attention of children.

— Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
The experiment, therefore, suggests that empty space itself could become a new tool for manipulating quantum matter, much like other efforts to push the limits of superconducting materials.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of manipulating

Verb

Furthermore, relationships themselves teach basic psychological capacities such as regulating emotions, tolerating disappointment, and negotiating differences—skills which therapy is supposed to cultivate.

— David H. Rosmarin, Time, 29 Aug. 2026
Iran and Oman are negotiating a deal to temporarily open the strait.

— Greg Myre, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of negotiating

Verb

At this late juncture in the season, the instability of the Akira One’s revolving-door crew is taking its toll.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 1 Sep. 2026
According to the memo, Google will begin taking electric service in February 2027 and will ramp up to full capacity by October 2029.

— Sydney Sasser, Arkansas Online, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of taking

Verb

Investors are also betting on a future DeepSeek listing in the mainland, said Wayne Shiong, managing partner at Argo Venture Partners, as the startup risks an exodus of senior engineers without financial incentives to stay.

— Anniek Bao,Elaine Yu, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
In addition to managing facilities, his other priorities include enacting policies or resources to ensure students are successful beyond graduation and focusing on student mental health and well-being.

— Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of managing

Browse Nearby Words

micromanages

micromanaging

microminiature

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“Micromanaging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/micromanaging. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of micromanaging

verb

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