micromanage

English

Etymology

Back-formation from micromanagement, equivalent to micro- +‎ manage.

Pronunciation

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Verb

micromanage (third-person singular simple present micromanages, present participle micromanaging, simple past and past participle micromanaged)

1. (transitive, intransitive) To manage, direct, or control a person, group, or system to an unnecessary level of detail or precision.

   The employees complained that their boss was micromanaging when she insisted that they account for their time in fifteen-minute intervals.

   • 2022 November 30, Cara Murphy, “A new mindset for GBR”, in RAIL, number 971, page 44:

     As GBR is intended to operate at arm's length from government while also being responsible for implementing a 30-year strategy, it is hoped that the industry will be less micro-managed by ministers and officials at both the DfT and within the Treasury.