MANIPULATING Synonyms: 101 Similar and Opposite Words

manipulating

verb

present participle of manipulate

as in exploiting

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

as in managing

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

as in negotiating

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 manipulating One of her alternate personalities — the cold and calculating Samantha — joins law enforcement to pursue her father’s killers, while other identities begin to surface with their own motives, seducing and manipulating powerful men as Sylvia’s search for justice veers into vengeance. —

Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026 Adrian Maclean, 52, of Lisbon was arrested twice in connection with an embezzlement scheme police say involved manipulating records in the Hebron Tax Collector’s Office, according to Connecticut State Police. —

Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 17 Mar. 2026 In November, two MLB players pleaded not guilty after being indicted for manipulating pitches to help bettors. —

Mckay Coppins, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2026 The large gap between the hard palate and cheek teeth acts as a pocket for holding food items while browsing, and for manipulating cud. —

Jeff Wilson, Outdoor Life, 11 Mar. 2026 For example gerrymandering, or the practice of manipulating electoral district boundaries to favor one political party, is an ongoing, albeit controversial tactic among both Democrats and Republicans. —

Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026 The skills could include tasks such as folding boxes, assembling components, or even manipulating objects, activities that still remain challenging for many robotic systems. —

Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 10 Mar. 2026 There’s a rich commonality between him and Venus that could be explored here—who’s manipulating Rika more? —

Literary Hub, 5 Mar. 2026 There’s a rich commonality between him and Venus that could be explored here—who’s manipulating Rika more? —

Sarah Chihaya, New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for manipulating

Verb

The film also showed attacks by conservative TV commentator Sean Hannity, who accused parents of exploiting girls, sparking a right-wing media frenzy and even threats to the organization.

— Kamren Curiel, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
The regime sought to eliminate my father by exploiting divisions that emerged within MOSOP in 1993.

— Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026