as in deceptive
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Recent Examples of manipulative
Even the leader of the free world can exhibit the impetuous, manipulative, disruptive behaviors of a spoiled child — behaviors that go beyond classroom disruptions and that can potentially disrupt the entire world.
—
Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
In the movie, which was progressive for its time, the trans character attempts suicide after being subjected to emotional and physical abuse by the manipulative Sonny, who tries to make amends by going rogue and stealing money for their surgery.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
The question for policymakers is not just how to delay a teenager’s first login, but how to force companies to make these systems less manipulative for new users.
—Catherine Thorbecke, Twin Cities, 28 Mar. 2026
Ana, with her anger issues and manipulative ways, is the prime suspect, not just to the police but to her sister, relatives and all her friends.
—Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for manipulative
Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
In the movie, which was progressive for its time, the trans character attempts suicide after being subjected to emotional and physical abuse by the manipulative Sonny, who tries to make amends by going rogue and stealing money for their surgery.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
The question for policymakers is not just how to delay a teenager’s first login, but how to force companies to make these systems less manipulative for new users.
—Catherine Thorbecke, Twin Cities, 28 Mar. 2026
Ana, with her anger issues and manipulative ways, is the prime suspect, not just to the police but to her sister, relatives and all her friends.
—Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for manipulative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manipulative
Adjective
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The suit alleges negligence, personal injury and deceptive business practices.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
22 Apr. 2026
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Barrera played Michelle, a deceptive character who will keep everyone guessing.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Worse yet, its structure is deceitful.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
21 Apr. 2026
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Both the criticism and self-flagellation imply that the act of claiming another person’s words can render these words deceitful, even if the words have been paid for and the content is true.—
Emily Hodgson Anderson,
The Conversation,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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How hypocritical that of me, Amy, and Gretchen, the only one married is me.—
David Sedaris,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
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That’s not just awkward; that’s hypocritical.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Lucien is devious and clever in not-especially-fresh ways but Christopher’s naked need for acceptance into Lucien’s world is easy to relate to, with the bonus entertainment value of both a criminal scheme that’s bound to go sideways and a sneak peek at the fascinating world of forgery.—
Chris Hewitt,
Boston Herald,
12 Apr. 2026
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Loki Loki is the Norse god of mischief and he’s known as a trickster—sometimes for good, sometimes a bit more devious.—
Kara Nesvig,
Parents,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Past friends and former associates described him to me as an exceptionally cunning con man, a consummate charmer, and a womanizer.—
Nate Freeman,
Vanity Fair,
3 Apr. 2026
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Starring Charlize Theron, Taron Egerton, and Eric Bana, the film was shot on location in the Australian wilderness and features Theron as a grieving woman on a solo adventure who becomes the target of a cunning killer (Egerton) in a twisted game of cat-and-mouse.—
Abid Rahman,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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As Van Young observes, the crooked governor here is a symptom, not a symbol.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
23 Apr. 2026
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Monday night, however, the team that cried wolf left the Nuggets with a bloody lip and crooked nose.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The Celtics weren’t able to create any distance from their pesky hosts until Brown hit a pair of 3-pointers late in the half — one off a nifty underhanded pass from Neemias Queta, the other set up by a Scheierman offensive rebound.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
21 Mar. 2026
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In California, the law prevents incumbents from pulling off the kind of underhanded stunt that Garcia and Daines managed.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, and Chace Crawford catapulted to fame playing the scheming social butterflies flitting around Gossip Girl's Upper East Side.—
Rachel DeSantis,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Apr. 2026
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After taking scheming actions, the model sometimes doubles down on its deception when asked follow-up questions.—
Harper’s Magazine,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Manipulative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manipulative. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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