as in deceptive
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Recent Examples of manipulative
His most recent film role was as a manipulative investor in Brad Pitt’s Grand Prix extravaganza, F1.
—
Sarah Crompton, Vogue, 20 Jan. 2026
SamBot is certainly manipulative throughout Lough’s film.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 16 Jan. 2026
That doesn’t seem that manipulative to me.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 15 Jan. 2026
Marianne Proctor was at church the day a constituent walked up to the state representative to tell her about the manipulative grooming her daughter endured at a school within the legislator’s district.
—Stephanie Kuzydym, Louisville Courier Journal, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for manipulative
Sarah Crompton, Vogue, 20 Jan. 2026
SamBot is certainly manipulative throughout Lough’s film.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 16 Jan. 2026
That doesn’t seem that manipulative to me.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 15 Jan. 2026
Marianne Proctor was at church the day a constituent walked up to the state representative to tell her about the manipulative grooming her daughter endured at a school within the legislator’s district.
—Stephanie Kuzydym, Louisville Courier Journal, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for manipulative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manipulative
Adjective
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Locked doors, bloody bits in trunks, deceptive lovers with ill intentions.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
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Even one of the more reputable internet weather personalities, Ryan Hall, whose YouTube channel staffs a team of meteorologists, and who has more than three million subscribers, often opts for flashy graphics and deceptive provocations to increase engagement.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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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
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Others agreed that her actions were thoughtful, not deceitful.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
12 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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His fall played as tabloid morality tale, at once confirming secular suspicion about hypocritical Christians and Christian suspicions about the temptations of secular trappings.—
Sam Kestenbaum,
Vulture,
2 Jan. 2026
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And now, with several countries withdrawing from global governance, Jin thinks those lecturing China on being responsible are being hypocritical.—
Nicholas Gordon,
Fortune,
14 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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As the series goes on, Jax morphs from a generally good-hearted guy into a violent, devious antihero.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Jan. 2026
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Still, self-censorship is the most devious concocter of self-deceit.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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His initial rise to fame came from playing cunning and ruthless centuries-old vampire Eric Northman on True Blood.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Jan. 2026
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They’re built up to be these impossibly deadly and evil and cunning foes, and then our much less impressive heroes manage to take them down through grit and determination or just dumb luck.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Ron Leibman and Paul Sand round out their gang, with Zero Mostel as the crooked attorney who serves as a go-between.—
Mark Olsen,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2026
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Descend its famously crooked path, flanked by cascading hydrangeas and storybook Edwardian homes—then watch cars zigzag through eight tight switchbacks while tourists crowd the sidewalks, snapping photos of its surreal descent.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 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 31 Jan. 2026.
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