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
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
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
-
Disney also has business before the Justice Department with an antitrust investigation into its bid to acquire a controlling stake of FuboTV and combine it with Disney’s Hulu + Live TV.—
Ramsey Touchberry,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Sep. 2025
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However, there's a significant difference between containing and controlling a wildfire.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But Rinzel seems uniquely well-suited to handling it.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
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As their team and systems scale, so too will their ability to serve multi-market investors who want a unified team handling all of their short-term rental assets.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The next stage are apps that offer a 360º approach, addressing the wellbeing of the caregiver and those in their care 24/7.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Crews are also engaged in mopping up, addressing hot spots, and back-hauling equipment on the eastern, southern, and western sides of the fire.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
His powers included manipulating fire, engulfing his body in flames, superhuman strength and flying.—
Olivia Singh,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Sanders, in a motion to the court, accused the initial prosecutor in the case, Tony Rackauckas, of manipulating evidence dealing with jailhouse informants.—
Tony Saavedra,
Oc Register,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Traditional approaches focus on financial engineering such as negotiating discounts for long-term commitments, or on observability tools that track who is running what.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
13 Sep. 2025
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The Teamsters announced on Facebook late Friday that their negotiating team has a tentative agreement for members to vote on, ending the strike and allowing next weekend’s Farm Aid concert to continue as planned at the U’s Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.—
Kristi Miller,
Twin Cities,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Members of a German team that had manufactured the cross were present, supervising Catalan workers who were preparing to install it.—
D. T. Max,
New Yorker,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, and Charlie Plummer star as some of the young boys in this gnarly competition while Mark Hamill is the Major, the menacing officer supervising the walk.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Ten category winners will receive $50,000 each, with one school taking home $500,000 to scale what works.—
Jaime Catmull,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Shortly after taking the position, McMahon, who comes from many years of experience in the private sector, noted that DOGE was conducting a solid audit of the agency.—
Arthur Jones II,
ABC News,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Coping Strategies For Fall Fatigue In The Workplace Quesenberry advises that the key to managing fall fatigue is to be proactive and make small, intentional adjustments to your daily routine like setting boundaries and prioritizing rest can safeguard mental well-being during this time of year.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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Containment is part of a larger plan for managing a wildfire.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Micromanaging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/micromanaging. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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