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

Traditional markets protect large orders through dark pools and other privacy mechanisms precisely because transparency at this level can be manipulative rather than beneficial. —Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025

Others would call it emotionally manipulative, particularly considering Belly hasn’t yet replied to any of his letters. —Olivia Petter, Vogue, 16 Sep. 2025

Amanda Seyfried as her manipulative employer. —Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025

While such a scenario sounds potentially maudlin and manipulative, Lucero — who wrote the film from a personal place — never allows that to happen by making the characters complex and flawed, and laboring under real-life issues. —Randy Myers, Mercury News, 12 Sep. 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