1
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
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2
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
3
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of manipulating
Unlike vision-only systems, Atlas relies heavily on proprioception—internal sensing of body position, load, balance, grip, and resistance—while manipulating objects.
—
Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 27 May 2026
The Zapatistas, considered the first informational guerrilla movement, used hacktivism, or manipulating computer systems or networks to promote a political ideology or social change.
—Paulo Nuno Vicenteall, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 May 2026
Consider, too, relatively new forms of trickery, such as manipulating substitution procedures or spying on rivals.
—Cesar R. Torres, The Conversation, 26 May 2026
The malevolent Sidious put Maul through the wringer, torturing and manipulating him on his path to becoming a fearsome Sith Lord.
—Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 19 May 2026
Kinematic intelligence began with EPFL researchers motion-capturing humans setting, shoving, tossing, and otherwise manipulating objects.
—New Atlas, 18 May 2026
More ruthless than ever, Tony Baddingham (Tennant) is determined to dismantle his rivals piece-by-piece, weaponizing scandal and manipulating those closest to him to maintain his grip on power.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 13 May 2026
Eric Richins' other sister, Katie Richins-Benson, accused Kouri Richins of isolating and manipulating the couple's sons while attempting to take their inheritance.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 13 May 2026
One monitor shows guitarist Jonny Greenwood manipulating a strange electronic device exuding tangled wires; another loops footage of a burning building.
—Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 12 May 2026
Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 27 May 2026
The Zapatistas, considered the first informational guerrilla movement, used hacktivism, or manipulating computer systems or networks to promote a political ideology or social change.
—Paulo Nuno Vicenteall, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 May 2026
Consider, too, relatively new forms of trickery, such as manipulating substitution procedures or spying on rivals.
—Cesar R. Torres, The Conversation, 26 May 2026
The malevolent Sidious put Maul through the wringer, torturing and manipulating him on his path to becoming a fearsome Sith Lord.
—Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 19 May 2026
Kinematic intelligence began with EPFL researchers motion-capturing humans setting, shoving, tossing, and otherwise manipulating objects.
—New Atlas, 18 May 2026
More ruthless than ever, Tony Baddingham (Tennant) is determined to dismantle his rivals piece-by-piece, weaponizing scandal and manipulating those closest to him to maintain his grip on power.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 13 May 2026
Eric Richins' other sister, Katie Richins-Benson, accused Kouri Richins of isolating and manipulating the couple's sons while attempting to take their inheritance.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 13 May 2026
One monitor shows guitarist Jonny Greenwood manipulating a strange electronic device exuding tangled wires; another loops footage of a burning building.
—Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 12 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manipulating
Verb
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Cybersecurity companies are in the middle of a significant inflection, spurred by Anthropic's Mythos model and the rise of autonomous AI agents that are capable of exploiting vulnerabilities faster than ever before.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
29 May 2026
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But Ava’s flourishing is also part of Deborah’s legacy, as a boss who has (mostly) stopped exploiting her employees and started supporting them—going so far, at the end of Season 4, as to choose her writing partner over her talk show.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
29 May 2026
Verb
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White can point to patterns and minutes restrictions, and there is a reasonable basketball explanation for managing Boston's workload.—
Dan Zaksheske OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
31 May 2026
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The Spurs’ defense was incredibly connected, aggressively rotating on and off SGA doubles and managing not to get exposed on the back end.—
William Guillory,
New York Times,
31 May 2026
Verb
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Pakistan has emerged as a key mediator between the US and Iran in recent months during the war in the Middle East, playing a leading role in negotiating a temporary ceasefire in April.—
Alayna Treene,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
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College hockey already is negotiating a tumultuous era.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
29 May 2026
Verb
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In 2023, Newsom announced California's landmark lawsuit against major oil companies, accusing them of deceiving the public about climate change and linking fossil fuel emissions to worsening heat waves, droughts and devastating wildfires.—
Kenny Choi,
CBS News,
23 May 2026
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He was also accused of deceiving escrow agents to secure the release of pre-construction condominium deposits and then misappropriated those funds for personal expenses unrelated to the developments.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Higher-Level Human Work The real value of AI starts with efficiency by handling repetitive tasks, freeing workers to focus on more strategic, creative and judgment-driven activities, such as higher-quality decision-making and revenue generation.—
Ameya Kanitkar,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
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Ebola is transmitted via bodily fluids, so treating sick patients and handling the deceased should only be done by healthcare teams in protective suits.—
Tom Soufi Burridge,
ABC News,
28 May 2026
Verb
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Ikebana flower arranging — Japan Ikebana, the traditional Japanese art of flower arranging, has been practiced since the late 15th century and remains deeply embedded in Japanese culture today.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
29 May 2026
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Ikebana flower arranging — Japan.—
Hanna Wickes,
Sacbee.com,
29 May 2026
Verb
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In 2005, addressing these health disparities became our sole focus and the Center for African American Health has been growing ever since.—
Deidre Johnson,
Denver Post,
25 May 2026
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Lena's relationships with Chris and Kristina will be a focus, with Sonnier addressing the ways their presence impacts Lena.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 May 2026
Verb
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Faye probably calculated that the move, announced late on Friday, could bury his own political career but was worth the risk to break an impasse that has prevented the country plotting a path out of its debilitating debt crisis.—
Alexis Akwagyiram,
semafor.com,
25 May 2026
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At a true farmers market, you’ll likely spot chefs inspecting greens, tasting fruits and plotting that night’s specials — the same approach is available to home cooks willing to shop seasonally and ask questions.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Charlotte Observer,
22 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Manipulating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manipulating. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.
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