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
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
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
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
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
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Several students protested the club in December, claiming the program’s outside influence violates a section of the Equal Access Act prohibiting people outside a school from directing conduct, controlling or regularly attending student groups.—
Addison Wright,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
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In court and to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, Mary Gingles repeatedly reported abusive and controlling behavior by Gingles, including threats to her life, in the months leading up to the murders.—
Shira Moolten,
Sun Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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With the passage of the INA, Congress tasked immigration courts with handling removal proceedings, thereby stripping district courts of jurisdiction over immigration matters.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Feb. 2026
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The brain is also far more adept at handling things like ambiguity, subtlety, and nuance.—
Matthew S Williams,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Fransein’s experiences as chief judge led her to identify training and education as important factors in addressing shortfalls in legal representation.—
Raynee Howell,
Oklahoma Watch,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Savannah Guthrie has released a fourth video addressing the apparent abduction of her 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In other cases, extremists have been convicted of manipulating children into cutting themselves or even killing pets on camera, records show.—
Curt Devine,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
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His belief that a conspiratorial coterie of people is manipulating American policy.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Senator says that's 'bottom line' Still, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, said Republicans have been negotiating in good faith.—
Terry Collins,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
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The rest of the negotiating team soon arrived, still fresh from their trip to Abu Dhabi.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
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And for supervising sound editor Al Nelson, now Oscar-nominated for his work on the film, that meant getting up close and personal to the powerful cars whizzing around corners on the tracks.—
Beatrice Verhoeven,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Feb. 2026
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These workers keep companies running smoothly, often supervising multiple teams, the report says.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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At UChicago Medicine, doctors use an AI called Ambient, a note-taking tool that records patient visits and then writes detailed notes for the doctors.—
Audrina Sinclair,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
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Behind forceful nights from Nic Claxton, who scored a career-high 28 points, and Noah Clowney, who added 22, and with three rookies taking full advantage of their minutes, the Nets found just enough offense to beat the Chicago Bulls 123-115 at Barclays Center.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The 30-year-old star, born Austin Richard Post, was born in New York but moved to Grapevine at 9 years old after Malone’s father, Rich Post, took a job managing concessions for the Dallas Cowboys.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Feb. 2026
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He's considered a great in-game coach, who creates advantages in the margins, like on substitution patterns and managing the clock.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Micromanaging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/micromanaging. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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