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 a deceptive 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

Ortega is the talented gymnast, while Byrne is the maternal yet manipulative and exploitative coach. — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 29 Oct. 2026

Even the provision that left the family’s homes to the children struck them as manipulative; in their view, by forcing them to share the homes, the parents were trying to coerce the children to spend time together after their death. — Christina Wing, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2026

For example, on page 46 of its prospectus, Anthropic said AI sometimes exhibits manipulative behavior that can resemble blackmail. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026

But manipulation of material and audience by a filmmaker whose topic is a manipulative, criminally convicted, and arguably sociopathic person is another matter. — Torie Bosch, STAT, 24 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for manipulative

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