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
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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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However, there are ways to manage it—be that through mindfulness, meditation, exercise, therapy, or just regular, good-quality sleep.—
Alessandra Signorelli,
Vogue,
23 June 2025
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Thrivent now manages just under $200 billion in assets and ranks on the Fortune 500 list at No. 388.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
23 June 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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The White House told Newsweek that Trump had been working to help farmers, including eliminating 10 regulations for every new regulation, as well as negotiating the U.K. trade deal, which expanded the markets available to them.—
Billal Rahman
Dan Gooding,
MSNBC Newsweek,
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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From floral arrangements to first dances, every detail matters—and at Walters Wedding Estates, every detail is handled with care, transparency, and a passion for making those dreams come true.—
Rhiannon Frater,
USA Today,
23 June 2025
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His approval on handling inflation and the cost of living has also fallen by nearly 6 points in the same period.—
Chloe Mayer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 June 2025
Verb
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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
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Similar to a puzzle, the goal is for kids to arrange the strings in a way that fits within the board’s pattern.—
Laura Lu,
Parents,
30 June 2025
Verb
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Breslow addressed three areas of need in starting pitching, bullpen help and another bat for the lineup.—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
28 June 2025
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The move to delist them paused as the federal government addressed the federal court’s concerns, including researching the grizzly bear’s diet.—
Christine Peterson,
Vox,
27 June 2025
Verb
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Manipulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manipulate. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.
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