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
That becomes micromanaging very quickly.
—
Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 12 Mar. 2026
Senate Bill 199 drew criticism and accusations of micromanaging universities.
—Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
The company also argued the shareholder proposal amounts to micromanaging day-to-day operations.
—Mike Schneider, Fortune, 8 Dec. 2025
Through automating repetitive tasks, flagging risks, and prioritizing leads, monday CRM helps companies spend less time micromanaging complex systems and more time closing on important, meaningful deals.
—Ethan Stone, Freep.com, 27 Oct. 2025
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
Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 12 Mar. 2026
Senate Bill 199 drew criticism and accusations of micromanaging universities.
—Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
The company also argued the shareholder proposal amounts to micromanaging day-to-day operations.
—Mike Schneider, Fortune, 8 Dec. 2025
Through automating repetitive tasks, flagging risks, and prioritizing leads, monday CRM helps companies spend less time micromanaging complex systems and more time closing on important, meaningful deals.
—Ethan Stone, Freep.com, 27 Oct. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for micromanaging
Verb
-
But controlling the weather, at least as Irving Langmuir envisioned it, was just plain folly.—
Natalia Sánchez Loayza,
Scientific American,
13 Mar. 2026
-
There were kids from legitimate moshpit organizations just traveling around, controlling the way the crowd reacted.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
So how are Israelis handling the Iranian onslaught, which erupted a short eight months after the previous round of hostilities concluded?—
Michael M. Rosen,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Thursday and Friday will be spent addressing bills that have been approved by both chambers but with differences in the language, Perez said.—
Jim Turner,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Providing energy at the lowest possible cost and supporting financial assistance programs are most frequently cited as top priorities, while addressing climate goals ranks last.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
For example gerrymandering, or the practice of manipulating electoral district boundaries to favor one political party, is an ongoing, albeit controversial tactic among both Democrats and Republicans.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The skills could include tasks such as folding boxes, assembling components, or even manipulating objects, activities that still remain challenging for many robotic systems.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
It would soon be revealed that Michael was simultaneously busy negotiating an alternative deal with Anthropic’s chief rival, OpenAI.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Herrick is credited with building up the Academy's library into one of the world's primary film research centers, as well as negotiating the award show's first television contract — and a major step toward financial independence — in 1953.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Theo is an audio-journalism veteran, having started her career at NPR as a fellow and rising to supervising producer of All Things Considered.—
The Atlantic,
The Atlantic,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Chona Kasinger | Bloomberg | Getty Images Microsoft said Thursday that Rajesh Jha, the software vendor’s highest-ranking executive supervising Office, is retiring in July after more than 35 years at the company.—
Jordan Novet,
CNBC,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
And the then-new audio streaming services, like Spotify, were taking hits from creators for paying low royalty rates.—
Cerys Davies,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Duncanville picked up the pace in the third quarter, taking a 38-34-lead into the fourth.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Glen, former deputy mayor for housing and economic development under Mayor de Blasio, is founder and managing principal at MSquared, a real estate investment and development company.—
Alicia Glen,
New York Daily News,
8 Mar. 2026
-
In a move that signaled the coming power grab, County CEO Michelle Aguirre intervened, keeping Schultz on the payroll to continue managing the very investments Freidenrich was elected to oversee.—
John Seiler,
Oc Register,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Micromanaging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/micromanaging. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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