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
The real reason is to wreak as much havoc as humanly possible, or at least that’s what we’re given to believe from the way the hostess swans about while deftly manipulating dozens of puppet strings simultaneously.
—
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 29 Oct. 2025
Since 2024, a number of lawsuits have been filed by parents against companies offering AI chatbots, alleging that extensive use of the technology led to a range of harms to kids, including manipulating and isolating them and leading to death by suicide.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2025
Cedric later accused Lisa of manipulating public narratives, especially after Villa Blanca’s closure.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
The neoliberal revolution, driven by former President Ronald Reagan in the United States and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the United Kingdom, expanded capital markets enough to create whole new industries out of manipulating financial instruments; thus, exploding the finance industry.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2025
John was accused of manipulating Malvo to serve as his partner in the shootings.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2025
Current Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, who was drafted by Boston in 2015 and played four seasons with the Celtics, is accused of providing inside information to NBA gamblers and manipulating his own performance to help associates cash bets.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
Rozier’s arrest was tied to allegations of manipulating in-game statistics to benefit betting operations, while Billups was accused of participating in illicit poker events connected to the criminal network.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 23 Oct. 2025
The craft involves manipulating color to create a specific mood, visual style or narrative theme and is widely-used across film, TV and music.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2025
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 29 Oct. 2025
Since 2024, a number of lawsuits have been filed by parents against companies offering AI chatbots, alleging that extensive use of the technology led to a range of harms to kids, including manipulating and isolating them and leading to death by suicide.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2025
Cedric later accused Lisa of manipulating public narratives, especially after Villa Blanca’s closure.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
The neoliberal revolution, driven by former President Ronald Reagan in the United States and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the United Kingdom, expanded capital markets enough to create whole new industries out of manipulating financial instruments; thus, exploding the finance industry.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2025
John was accused of manipulating Malvo to serve as his partner in the shootings.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2025
Current Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, who was drafted by Boston in 2015 and played four seasons with the Celtics, is accused of providing inside information to NBA gamblers and manipulating his own performance to help associates cash bets.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
Rozier’s arrest was tied to allegations of manipulating in-game statistics to benefit betting operations, while Billups was accused of participating in illicit poker events connected to the criminal network.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 23 Oct. 2025
The craft involves manipulating color to create a specific mood, visual style or narrative theme and is widely-used across film, TV and music.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manipulating
Verb
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Among the things Rodrik recommends are learning the lessons of China’s remarkable industrial rise, focussing on services rather than manufacturing, and further exploiting the dramatic fall in the cost of green energy.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
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The pod, known as Moctezuma’s pod, may be exploiting warming waters that have shifted shark nursery areas, making younger and less experienced sharks easier targets.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Your biggest challenge this month is managing your expectations, especially when emotions run high.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
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Every child benefits from practicing waiting, joining conversation and managing boredom in everyday settings.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Republicans have not been negotiating.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Nov. 2025
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And less than 24 hours after the governor undercut Woodward at LSU, the athletic director was, to no one’s surprise, negotiating his exit strategy from the school.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Gordon warned me that this was deceiving.—
Ava Kofman,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
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Santos was sentenced to prison in April after admitting last year to deceiving donors and stealing the identities of 11 people — including his own family members — to make donations to his campaign.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
25 Oct. 2025
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According to the announcement, salmonella can affect the animals eating the products and possibly humans handling the products.—
Eva Wen,
jsonline.com,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Back in classes, arranging speech therapy for Jayden and planning a service at the seminary chapel, Rochelle was swamped.—
Jayme Fraser,
USA Today,
30 Oct. 2025
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Roberts tried re-arranging his lineup, inserting Will Smith in the second spot behind Ohtani, while moving Mookie Betts to the third slot ahead of Freddie Freeman.—
Barry M. Bloom,
Sportico.com,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Hegseth said addressing the legacies of the war, which ended 50 years ago in April, remains the foundation and a top priority of the countries’ defense relationship.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
3 Nov. 2025
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Beach preservation is another concern, one that the resort is mindfully addressing.—
Jacqui Gifford,
Travel + Leisure,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Meanwhile, the Israeli settler movement is openly plotting a long-term return to Gaza, seeking to reverse the evacuation of 8,000 settlers from the Strip that happened twenty years ago.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
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Curves plotting model performance against size have begun flattening out.—
James Somers,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Manipulating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manipulating. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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