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
Jane became resistant as time went on and wanted these nights to drop, but Combs plied her with drugs and manipulated her into continuing, Slavik told the jury.
—
Nbc News, NBC news, 26 June 2025
Once again, Netanyahu manipulated Trump to assist him in attacking Iran under pretenses not supported by the evidence.
—Tom Zirpoli, Baltimore Sun, 24 June 2025
She was barred from running a second time, in 2004, after accusing the regime of torturing political prisoners and manipulating elections.
—Robin Wright, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
Freud revealed the subterranean sources of our desires; advertisers manipulate our taste for breakfast cereals as well as presidents.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for manipulate
Nbc News, NBC news, 26 June 2025
Once again, Netanyahu manipulated Trump to assist him in attacking Iran under pretenses not supported by the evidence.
—Tom Zirpoli, Baltimore Sun, 24 June 2025
She was barred from running a second time, in 2004, after accusing the regime of torturing political prisoners and manipulating elections.
—Robin Wright, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
Freud revealed the subterranean sources of our desires; advertisers manipulate our taste for breakfast cereals as well as presidents.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for manipulate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manipulate
Verb
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Pratt’s conviction kept him behind bars for 27 years, and the case haunted Cochran, who believed Pratt was innocent and who had made a mistake at trial that prosecutors skillfully exploited.—
Christopher Goffard,
Los Angeles Times,
28 June 2025
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The risk was leaving big spaces out wide that could be exploited in transition, by Juventus’ wing-backs especially.—
Liam Tharme,
New York Times,
28 June 2025
Verb
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Cortisol can also manage how your body fat and muscles use glucose.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
5 July 2025
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The rest of the crimes followed the same pattern: Sometime between 1:30 a.m. and 3:30 a.m., the suspects managed to break open a security gate and the front door to a store before emptying the register.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
5 July 2025
Verb
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Deals like those could get done before the official start time because teams are allowed to negotiate with their own free agents once the NBA Finals are finished.—
Tim Reynolds,
Chicago Tribune,
1 July 2025
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Years from now, there may not even be a need for agencies to negotiate and buy TV ad spots.—
Michael Ashley,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
Verb
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The person is not trying to deceive or control, but the behavior still affects others and requires self awareness and growth to correct.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
27 June 2025
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Where was this sense of urgency when the mullahs were attempting to deceive U.N. inspectors while sandbagging U.S. efforts to diplomatically scuttle the country’s nuclear efforts?—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
21 June 2025
Verb
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Whereas Ober handled the struggles well early on, his last two turns were far more difficult on the pitcher.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
5 July 2025
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Especially useful were the afternoon sessions spent handling jewelry and learning about European and British hallmarks and assay marks through using the loupe and studying the different marks.—
Kyle Roderick,
Forbes.com,
5 July 2025
Verb
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According to El País, Leyva traveled to the U.S. in April and tried to arrange meetings with high-profile Republicans including Florida U.S. Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.—
Antonio Maria Delgado,
Miami Herald,
30 June 2025
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In addition to their other tasks, house cleaners will arrange little items like these neatly.—
Meghan Overdeep,
Southern Living,
30 June 2025
Verb
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But negotiations typically address work conditions and other issues besides compensation and this year’s talks were expected to include one particularly sticky point.—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
9 July 2025
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In a short social media video posted Tuesday on Instagram, the 41-year-old actress addressed her exit from General Hospital amid her move to Tennessee with daughter Harper.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
9 July 2025
Verb
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Each pop-up event is meticulously engineered to provide not only memorable consumer experiences but also gather crucial data, enabling Kizik to better understand market readiness for future investments.—
Brin Snelling,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
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The robotic arms are similar to those used in automotive manufacturing, engineered for speed, precision, and reliability.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
30 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Manipulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manipulate. Accessed 13 Jul. 2025.
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