manipulative

adjective

ma·​nip·​u·​la·​tive mə-ˈni-pyə-ˌlā-tiv 

-lə-

: of, relating to, or performed by manipulation

Osteopathy emphasizes manipulative techniques to correct abnormalities thought to cause disease and inhibit recovery.

—Carol L. Otis et al.

especially : serving or intended to control or influence others in an artful and often unfair or selfish way

a clever and manipulative child

manipulative behavior

Simpleminded as his critics found his ideas and remarks, cynical and manipulative as he may have been in actuality, he seemed to believe every word he said.

—Arthur Miller

manipulatively adverb

manipulativeness noun

Examples of manipulative in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Duffy’s greatest worry is Manus’ manipulative potential and moral unaccountability. —Tor Constantino, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025

Starring Denzel Washington in the title role and Jake Gyllenhaal as the manipulative Iago, the production played to 100% capacity for each of its eight shows last week, filling every single seat in the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, according to Playbill. —Kaitlyn Huamani, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2025

Many early stories about Salome depicted her as an evil and manipulative temptress. —Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Mar. 2025

This implies today’s generative AI is already capable of developing manipulative and deceptive strategies without any human input. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 6 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for manipulative

• accommodative
• accumulative
• adjudicative
• administrative
• agglutinative
• ameliorative
• appreciative
• assimilative
• associative
• authoritative
• collaborative
• cooperative