Synonyms of manipulate

manipulate

verb

mə-ˈni-pyə-ˌlāt 

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

• exploit
• deceive
• play (upon)
• maneuver
• trick
• engineer
• delude
• devise
• fool
• hoodwink
• dupe
• finagle
• scheme
• arrange
• jockey
• defraud
• plot
• cheat
• bluff
• intrigue
• beguile
• snow
• gull
• swindle
• contrive
• take in
• cozen
• kid
• machinate
• mastermind
• finesse
• shanghai
• hoax
• con
• chisel
• fleece
• hustle

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

• manage
• handle
• address
• negotiate
• treat
• take
• play
• maneuver
• field
• cope (with)
• swing
• hack
• contend (with)
• grapple (with)
• control
• pull
• come to grips with
• regulate
• have a grip on
• carry out
• engineer
• steer
• get off
• carry off
• direct
• guide
• finesse
• respond (to)
• react (to)
• jockey
• micromanage
• command
• bring off
• run

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• botch
• fumble
• mishandle
• bungle
• goof (up)
• mess (up)
• scamp
• louse up
• muff
• foozle

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

• negotiate
• arrange
• engineer
• manage
• maneuver
• plot
• contrive
• finagle
• finesse
• frame
• machinate
• conclude
• wangle
• mastermind
• scheme
• conduct
• work out
• handle
• connive
• hammer out
• concoct
• concert
• direct
• intrigue
• angle (for)
• hatch
• compass
• cook (up)
• brew
• command
• run
• gerrymander
• quarterback
• captain

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• blow
• butcher
• gum (up)
• mangle
• botch
• mishandle
• fumble
• bungle
• mess (up)
• louse up
• muff
• flub
• bobble

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of manipulate

Instead of a surgeon physically manipulating every instrument by hand, the doctor could control a robotic system that translates those decisions into extremely precise movements. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 19 Aug. 2026

The trend has been fueled in part by unfounded claims that jets are spraying chemicals to control people’s minds or manipulate the weather. — Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 19 Aug. 2026

They are accused of falsifying overtime claims, forging approvals from supervisors and manipulating official records. — Ben Conarck, Washington Post, 18 Aug. 2026

Experts say that while some event contracts — such as the personal life of pop stars — aren’t as easy to manipulate, other scenarios could be rife with insider trading or, in the case of wildfire contracts, motivate people to commit arson. — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026