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
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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
There’s a distinct difference between telling stories of characters experiencing distinct trauma and fictionalizing pain simply to manipulate an audience.
—
Steve Greene, IndieWire, 12 Apr. 2025
Scripting: the ability to inject new JavaScript into webpages and manipulate the DOM
Alarms: an internal messaging service to trigger events.
—Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 11 Apr. 2025
In Season 4 of the Max comedy, Deborah Vance and Ava Daniels have manipulated their way into their respective dream jobs as host and head writer of a late-night talk show on network TV.
—Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 10 Apr. 2025
This country is being manipulated by two people — and those too afraid to have the courage to oppose them.
—Chicago Tribune, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for manipulate
Steve Greene, IndieWire, 12 Apr. 2025
Scripting: the ability to inject new JavaScript into webpages and manipulate the DOM
Alarms: an internal messaging service to trigger events.
—Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 11 Apr. 2025
In Season 4 of the Max comedy, Deborah Vance and Ava Daniels have manipulated their way into their respective dream jobs as host and head writer of a late-night talk show on network TV.
—Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 10 Apr. 2025
This country is being manipulated by two people — and those too afraid to have the courage to oppose them.
—Chicago Tribune, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for manipulate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manipulate
Verb
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The Diamondbacks stole five bases in four innings, exploiting Cabrera’s deliberate delivery to the plate.—
Isaac Azout,
Miami Herald,
17 Apr. 2025
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At Coachella, defaults are rare, but the $4 million fee haul shows promoters profit handsomely, raising ethical questions about exploiting fans’ FOMO.—
Jack Kelly,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
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With the 18-34 crowd, the season managed a 0.378 rating, up 14% from last season’s 0.332 rating.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
10 Apr. 2025
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As for recharging, Google could do better—the Pixel 9a manages just 23 W wired and 7.5 W wireless, and the flagship Pixels are only a little faster.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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His special envoy to Ukraine set a goal of negotiating an agreement even quicker during the first 100 days of Trump's term.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
20 Apr. 2025
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Still, there’s a fine line between negotiating smartly and offending a seller.—
Halee Miller Van Ryswyk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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But as, as the brilliant evolutionary psychologist Geoffrey Miller notes, our capacities to judge competence have evolved, so too have our capacities to deceive others about it.—
Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
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And Ken claims to be a man of faith but uses fake Uber accounts to meet his girlfriend and deceive his family.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The environmental health center had also handled a variety of other issues like cruise ship outbreak investigations, which are now reeling from significant layoffs.—
Sarah Lynch Baldwin,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2025
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The bulbs are durable and waterproof, able to handle extreme heat and cold.—
Nora Colomer,
FOXNews.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Oz: On [Richard’s] birthday, Laura arranged for maybe a dozen Civil War reenactors to come galloping onto the set.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
9 Apr. 2025
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But the human author was a sort of conductor: prompting, arranging, intervening.—
Anna Wiener,
New Yorker,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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To address inflammation, Dr. Huang recommends Skinfix’s Eczema+ Dermatitis Relief Balm.—
Jessica Kasparian,
SELF,
15 Apr. 2025
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But they largely weren’t set up to address the needs of rural students or Latter-day Saints—commonly known as Mormons, although the Church has discouraged that term.—
Emma Green,
New Yorker,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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These fabrics are engineered for thermal regulation, flexibility, and lightweight strength—perfect for transitional and colder months.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
18 Apr. 2025
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Engineers have spent more than a century attempting to engineer automatic transmissions that are smoother, faster, more efficient, and more convenient than a manual transmission.—
Michael Harley,
Forbes.com,
18 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Manipulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manipulate. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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