1
as in to exploit
to control or take advantage of by artful, unfair, or insidious means
the con man would slyly manipulate the emotions of his marks in order to win their sympathy and trust
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to manage
to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently
spin doctors manipulating the data to make it seem more favorable to their preferred candidates
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to negotiate
to plan out usually with subtle skill or care
manipulated the schedule of presidential primaries so that the choice of the party elders would win the nomination
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of manipulate
Staffers maintain that recruits have actually manipulated highlights for years, before AI, and there are tells, such as watching to see if the referees or people in the stands are sped up.
—
Antonio Morales, New York Times, 1 May 2026
To elevate Rocha Moya in the 2021 election, the indictment alleges, says the Chapitos manipulated ballots and kidnapped and intimidated his opponents.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
He is accused of lying his way onto the staff in the first place, manipulating young, female and minority employees to cover his tracks and sowing an environment of fear within the organization, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
Companies generally won’t admit to designing an interface to manipulate users, but the intent doesn’t determine whether a UI design is a dark pattern.
—ArsTechnica, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for manipulate
Antonio Morales, New York Times, 1 May 2026
To elevate Rocha Moya in the 2021 election, the indictment alleges, says the Chapitos manipulated ballots and kidnapped and intimidated his opponents.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
He is accused of lying his way onto the staff in the first place, manipulating young, female and minority employees to cover his tracks and sowing an environment of fear within the organization, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
Companies generally won’t admit to designing an interface to manipulate users, but the intent doesn’t determine whether a UI design is a dark pattern.
—ArsTechnica, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for manipulate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manipulate
Verb
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The goalie coaches for NHL teams have a two-fold job, working with their own goalies to close up any weak points in their game, and scouting the other team’s goalies to look for areas their shooters might be able to exploit.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
4 May 2026
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The Thunder are just that good – picking apart opponents to exploit weaknesses while shooting at a highly efficient clip from the field.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
Verb
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The casting has always managed to feel diverse, but in a guileless, incidental way, giving the appearance of multicultural inclusion without espousing any explicitly progressive viewpoints.—
Hua Hsu,
New Yorker,
29 Apr. 2026
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The Bruins managed to keep it tight through the end of the first, with the Sabres taking that 1-0 lead into the first intermission.—
Matt Reigle OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Despite attempts to negotiate the Strait of Hormuz’s reopening during an ongoing ceasefire, the narrow waterway remains shut to virtually all ship traffic.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
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Olthof Homes successfully challenged a $100,000 penalty levied by the town in the Indiana Court of Appeals, so a lower fine was negotiated between the two parties.—
Amy Lavalley,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The lawsuit alleged that Capital One deceived customers about interest rates related to some of its savings account options, according to court filings on the settlement website.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
3 May 2026
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Her The Wife nods and supports, all knowingly without deceiving the emotional truths of the narrative.—
Chris Feil,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
Verb
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As Mars meets resistance from Jupiter, trying to handle everything at once backfires.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
4 May 2026
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This lightweight nylon bag features handles long enough to sit comfortably on your shoulder, a handy exterior pocket, and a top zipper closure to keep all of your belongings secure.—
Caroline Hughes,
Travel + Leisure,
3 May 2026
Verb
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Others kick things up by arranging private beach bonfires in the evening, catamaran outings by day, surf lessons with Engstrom Surf, and even customized tarot card readings.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 May 2026
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If the Leafs take Stenberg, and the Sharks want a defenseman and are confident that the Vancouver Canucks will select McKenna, maybe the two Pacific Division teams can arrange a trade.—
Curtis Pashelka,
Mercury News,
7 May 2026
Verb
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And the agency didn’t track whether or not a caller’s problem was addressed.—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
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State Farm spokesman Sevag Sarkissian said the department’s brief only addressed a legal argument seeking dismissal of the lawsuit.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
Verb
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This allows for an ultra-efficient aircraft engineered for transonic laminar flow.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
7 May 2026
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Material World is a weekly roundup of innovations and ideas within the materials sector, covering what’s changing in how fashion is made, scaled or engineered from emerging biomaterials and alternative leathers to sustainable substitutes and future-proof fibers.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Manipulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manipulate. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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