as in deceptive
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Recent Examples of manipulative
The idea of using manipulative marketing language to describe something so threatening is insane.
—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
15 June 2026
So when the workings of the world, with its shouty messaging and manipulative storylines, get to be too much—when all of that strategized meaning feels like an imposition—go to the Met or Olana or your nearest Church.
—
Susan Tallman,
The Atlantic,
13 June 2026
Out flood centuries of memories, including Lestat’s childhood in rural France with a cruel father and manipulative mother, Gabriella (Jennifer Ehle); his first romance, with violinist Nicolas de Lenfent (Joseph Potter); and the anguish of his own turning into a vampire.
—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
10 June 2026
And as the 60-something Tony, Gregory North crafts a character who is equal parts stubborn and manipulative, and kind and generous.
—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for manipulative
Brent Lang,
Variety,
15 June 2026
So when the workings of the world, with its shouty messaging and manipulative storylines, get to be too much—when all of that strategized meaning feels like an imposition—go to the Met or Olana or your nearest Church.
—
Susan Tallman,
The Atlantic,
13 June 2026
Out flood centuries of memories, including Lestat’s childhood in rural France with a cruel father and manipulative mother, Gabriella (Jennifer Ehle); his first romance, with violinist Nicolas de Lenfent (Joseph Potter); and the anguish of his own turning into a vampire.
—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
10 June 2026
And as the 60-something Tony, Gregory North crafts a character who is equal parts stubborn and manipulative, and kind and generous.
—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for manipulative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manipulative
Adjective
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Despite criticism over opaque and deceptive practices, prediction markets’ election favorites won most of the time, a Washington Post analysis found; more liquid in betting markets improves their accuracy, economists told CNN, but could carry negative social costs.
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This is the essence of GPS spoofing, in which an attacker floods a GPS receiver with deceptive signals.
Adjective
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Keep your actual and suspected traitors closer – the non-loyal, uncommitted, secretive, suspicious, dishonest, deceitful, chronically negative, and regularly undermining.
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The interview was secretly filmed in her apartment at Kensington Palace while she was separated from then-Prince Charles and later revealed to have been secured by deceitful methods.
Adjective
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Or means that any comments are supposedly hypocritical.
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Earlier this month, Matsui’s campaign came after Vang for taking corporate donations from Sacramento-area businesses during her city council campaigns, implying that Vang’s vows to not accept money from corporate PACs in her congressional bid is hypocritical.
Adjective
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Perhaps Munro’s most popular role is as Betty’s devious dad, Hal Cooper, on Riverdale.
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Jeremy Strong is very good at playing devious men with very deep pockets.
Adjective
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Daemon is one of the most clever, cunning and conniving characters in House of the Dragon, who always seems to have the upper hand.
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Under this light, Penelope emerges as exemplary, cunning, wounded, and trapped by the male order that praises her.
Adjective
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Warnock writes that his belief that the crooked places in America will be made straight keeps him motivated even on tough days at the Capitol.
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And ‘Meet the Press’ is crooked.
Adjective
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Years of unrelenting pressure—smear campaigns, interrogations, arrests, a violent raid, and underhanded attempts at control—had succeeded in breaking it.
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The Knicks won Game 3 Friday night, and are on the verge of sweeping their rivals, which serves Philadelphia right for trying to pull off such an underhanded scheme.
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.
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After taking scheming actions, the model sometimes doubles down on its deception when asked follow-up questions.
Cite this Entry
“Manipulative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manipulative. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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