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
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
-
Sheeraz is also adept at timing; if his foe offers a slight opening, Sheeraz can exploit it and land a powerful strike.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
-
His bat speed hasn’t slowed, but there will always be ways to exploit even the greatest hitters.—
Matt Gelb,
New York Times,
10 July 2025
Verb
-
Shakur’s Instagram account, managed by his estate, reposted the message.—
Steven J. Horowitz,
Variety,
5 July 2025
-
His podcast with son and managing partner and pollster Jeremy Zogby can be heard here.—
Paul Bedard,
The Washington Examiner,
5 July 2025
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
Step two: Defend against junk fees These nefarious fees are designed either to confuse or deceive consumers.—
Jill Schlesinger,
Mercury News,
7 July 2025
-
Several state legislators and other state officials will testify that they were deceived by the conspirators regarding the operations of Phoenix Solutions, according to prosecutors.—
Evan Mealins,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
Verb
-
There are, however, a variety of B2B businesses out there tailored to handle services like these.—
Brit Morse,
Fortune,
5 July 2025
-
While marketed as ideal starter pets for children, they were described by multiple users as difficult to handle and heartbreakingly short-lived.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 July 2025
Verb
-
In addition to their other tasks, house cleaners will arrange little items like these neatly.—
Meghan Overdeep,
Southern Living,
30 June 2025
-
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
-
This strategy might be helpful to address the challenge with wildfires because satellites can get a more global view of the spread of pollutants.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
9 July 2025
-
As a result, layoffs can continue while legal challenges are addressed in the lower courts.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
9 July 2025
Verb
-
The robotic arms are similar to those used in automotive manufacturing, engineered for speed, precision, and reliability.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
30 June 2025
-
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 14 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share