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
And that is where they can be manipulated.
—
Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026
Journalists and other sources may be cited by the bots, but the people who control these AI products, such as Musk, now have a greater ability to manipulate how events are reported.
—Damon Beres, The Atlantic, 5 Jan. 2026
International election watchdogs, including the United States, say Maduro manipulated the ballot results in order to steal a third term in office and continue his dictatorial reign.
—Alana Wise, NPR, 3 Jan. 2026
Beyond the doubts and confusion, many Venezuelans also felt deep relief at the news of the ousting of Maduro — whose government watchdog groups and independent monitors manipulated the 2024 presidential election to secure victory.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 3 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for manipulate
Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026
Journalists and other sources may be cited by the bots, but the people who control these AI products, such as Musk, now have a greater ability to manipulate how events are reported.
—Damon Beres, The Atlantic, 5 Jan. 2026
International election watchdogs, including the United States, say Maduro manipulated the ballot results in order to steal a third term in office and continue his dictatorial reign.
—Alana Wise, NPR, 3 Jan. 2026
Beyond the doubts and confusion, many Venezuelans also felt deep relief at the news of the ousting of Maduro — whose government watchdog groups and independent monitors manipulated the 2024 presidential election to secure victory.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 3 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for manipulate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manipulate
Verb
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Outside the capital, guerrilla groups and organized crime syndicates are exploiting the power vacuum along Venezuela’s borders and in its resource-rich interior.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
9 Jan. 2026
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The final part of the dormancy evolution puzzle is what ecologists refer to as the ecological niche a species occupies — the specific set of conditions that species evolved to exploit or the conditions under which that species is likely to be more successful when compared to other species.—
Paul Cappiello,
Louisville Courier Journal,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In the past, American capitalism, despite its many faults, had managed to develop a safety net that compensated a little for its exploitations.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Jan. 2026
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Ownership also involves financial responsibility, with car insurance playing a role in how people manage and protect their assets.—
Ethan M. Stone,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Still, the legislative session frequently goes past the target end date as lawmakers negotiate over the final details of bills and the state budget.—
Stephen Gruber-Miller,
Des Moines Register,
9 Jan. 2026
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Players with more than three years of service time can use arbitration to negotiate their salaries for an upcoming season, and Skubal has more than five years in.—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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To keep the most vulnerable safe, Ivan has to decide to confront the soldiers or deceive them at the potential cost of his life.—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
6 Jan. 2026
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Relying Too Much On Garbage Disposals Though the name may be deceiving, garbage disposals aren’t actually designed to dispose of all garbage.—
Quincy Bulin,
Southern Living,
3 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Perception is handled through a dual-lidar setup consisting of Halo and Sentinel systems.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Jan. 2026
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Questions regarding vehicle maintenance and specifications are handled by the City of Chicago's Fleet & Facility Management department, which manages all municipal equipment.—
Jermont Terry,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Despite his level-headedness, Mike is mightily discontent with the low-wattage gigs that are arranged for him by, of all people, his dentist (Fisher Stevens), who soon replaces that absent tooth.—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
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As a newcomer to composing and arranging for strings, Simon benefitted greatly by working with a group readily available for consultation and collaboration.—
Andrew Gilbert,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The measures, which had been agreed to in writing in mid-November 2023, were intended to address Lively’s concerns about on-set conduct and safety.—
Elizabeth Rosner,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
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This trend is not about a specific feature but a broad approach to bath design that addresses individual wellness.—
Kristina McGuirk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The boom has been engineered by the school’s chancellor, Pradeep Khosla, who convinced legislators to provide hundreds of millions of dollars for growth.—
Gary Robbins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Jan. 2026
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In the coming months, Coello will work directly with On’s product development team in Switzerland, providing ongoing insights to engineer footwear specifically designed to the unique demands of the padel court.—
Sportico Staff,
Sportico.com,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Manipulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manipulate. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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