as in deceptive
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Recent Examples of manipulative
Elizabeth was principled and compassionate while Jessica was carefree, outgoing and manipulative, and their clashes and crushes became a welcome distraction.
—
Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 17 Feb. 2026
To give clemency to someone as manipulative as Maxwell would undermine justice.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 17 Feb. 2026
The result is a surreal and darkly comic tale set inside a decaying industrial wig factory, where workers are pushed into punishing overtime shifts by the manipulative incentives of an exploitative lady overseer.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 15 Feb. 2026
Rita was first married for 22 years to an emotionally abusive man and then remarried to a manipulative one.
—Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for manipulative
Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 17 Feb. 2026
To give clemency to someone as manipulative as Maxwell would undermine justice.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 17 Feb. 2026
The result is a surreal and darkly comic tale set inside a decaying industrial wig factory, where workers are pushed into punishing overtime shifts by the manipulative incentives of an exploitative lady overseer.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 15 Feb. 2026
Rita was first married for 22 years to an emotionally abusive man and then remarried to a manipulative one.
—Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for manipulative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manipulative
Adjective
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The felony charges are forgery and deceptive or fraudulent business practices.—
Michael Guise,
CBS News,
25 Feb. 2026
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All clever touches and deceptive movement, this was the Eze Arsenal couldn’t bear to miss out on.—
Amy Lawrence,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Their false claims about getting financially fleeced by Uncle Sam were fueled by a rather sophisticated, albeit deceitful and shameful lobbying campaign, sponsored by greedy gadflies out to make a quick buck.—
Tom Margenau,
Dallas Morning News,
1 Feb. 2026
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The book goes into the deceitful methods used to secure the interview, which was broadcast on 20 November 1995, and the interest in figuring out what happened that exists to this day.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
30 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Former Michigan Republican gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon called it hypocritical.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
23 Feb. 2026
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That struck him as hypocritical when about a year later, while incarcerated against his will, the same military demanded his willingness to serve, likely in the segregated unit of Japanese American soldiers called the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Or, there are a few things audiences shouldn’t even think about during one, let alone find the time to worry about — especially not if our seemingly devious criminals aren’t worrying about them, either.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
18 Feb. 2026
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That’s when my twelve-year-old brain experienced its first devious epiphany.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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While people born in the year of the snake are seen as charismatic, intelligent, and artistic, they are also often considered cunning and mysterious.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
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And Halston has a cunning plan.—
Kaycee Sloan,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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And no more crooked mail-in ballots except for illness, disability, military, or travel.—
TIME Staff,
Time,
25 Feb. 2026
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And no more crooked mail-in ballots except for illness, disability, military or travel.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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What your boyfriend did was inconsiderate and underhanded and showed disregard for your feelings.—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
9 Jan. 2026
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Bad decisions and underhanded betrayals ensue.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
23 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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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
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What initially seems to be a satire about corporate downsizing evolves into a kind of scheming caper romp, before downshifting into something that feels more horror-comedy structured.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Manipulative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manipulative. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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