micromanage

American  

[mahy-kroh-man-ij] / ˈmaɪ kroʊˌmæn ɪdʒ /

verb (used with object)

micromanaged, micromanaging

1. to manage or control with excessive attention to minor details.

   He doesn’t think it’s the legislature’s role to micromanage schools.

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micromanage British  

/ ˈmaɪkrəʊˌmænɪdʒ /

verb

1. (tr) to control (a business or project) with excessive attention to minor details

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Usage

What does micromanage mean? To micromanage is to control and guide something with excessive attention to detail. Micromanage is most often used in business and industry when a manager or someone in authority tries to control the details their subordinates or colleagues should take care of. For example, if the boss of a company does the work of their employees to save time instead of letting the employees do the work, they are micromanaging. Micromanage can also be used outside of business, as with group projects, team sports, relationships, and everyday life. For example, if you tell your roommate in detail how to wash the dishes even though they know how to wash dishes, you are micromanaging your roommate. Example: Maxime always finds a way to micromanage our projects, making everyone feel useless.

Other Word Forms

• micromanagement noun
• micromanager noun

Etymology

Origin of micromanage

First recorded in 1970–75; micro- ( def. ) + manage ( def. )

Example Sentences

Its role isn’t to micromanage decisions but to ensure transparency and to guarantee investors that financial institutions can fail without bringing down the broader economy.

From Barron's • Feb. 18, 2026

The deal would let the union micromanage work at the plant.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 17, 2026

"Netflix is much more historically inclined to not micromanage production."

From BBC • Dec. 13, 2025

“While we fully respect the Executive’s robust assertion of its Article II powers, we shall not micromanage the efforts of a fine district judge attempting to implement the Supreme Court’s recent decision,” he added.

From Salon • Apr. 18, 2025

They want constant updates on every Hab system, and they've got a room full of people trying to micromanage my crops.

From "The Martian" by Andy Weir