1
as in to exploit
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 to manage
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 to negotiate
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 manipulate
The delay does not necessarily mean the data is being manipulated.
—
Filip Timotija, The Hill, 1 Aug. 2025
And for decades, prosecutors have used peremptory challenges — challenges that don’t need a cause — to manipulate the makeup of juries.
—Denise Amos, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 July 2025
Cultivated potatoes are prone to disease, and—thanks to their four-copy genomes—a pain to breed and genetically manipulate.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 31 July 2025
Fast-forward to this month, when Paramount agreed to a $16 million settlement to move past Trump's claims that CBS's 60 Minutes deceptively manipulated a pre-election interview with Kamala Harris.
—Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 25 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for manipulate
Filip Timotija, The Hill, 1 Aug. 2025
And for decades, prosecutors have used peremptory challenges — challenges that don’t need a cause — to manipulate the makeup of juries.
—Denise Amos, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 July 2025
Cultivated potatoes are prone to disease, and—thanks to their four-copy genomes—a pain to breed and genetically manipulate.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 31 July 2025
Fast-forward to this month, when Paramount agreed to a $16 million settlement to move past Trump's claims that CBS's 60 Minutes deceptively manipulated a pre-election interview with Kamala Harris.
—Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 25 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for manipulate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manipulate
Verb
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During the leak, former and current customers' information was exploited, including names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth and more personal details.—
Shelby Slade,
AZCentral.com,
15 Aug. 2025
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Phishing, malware and misinformation relentlessly exploit weak points in online systems.—
Akram Atallah,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Uber's operational model prioritizes rapid market entry with standardized processes that can be quickly deployed across new cities, often learning and adapting on the fly while managing the complexity of hundreds of simultaneous markets.—
Tima Bansal,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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The restaurant, managed by the Built on Hospitality group, was known for its inventive menu from chefs Chris Coleman and Whit Thomas, but served its last guests unexpectedly.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Brokers and dealers working more like Reynier in the days of La Réserve would take small parcels from the secondary market or negotiate parcels directly with distilleries.—
Mark Littler,
Forbes.com,
5 Aug. 2025
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The new state law allows the companies to extract critical minerals from coal without having to negotiate amendments to existing leases.—
Jacob Orledge,
ProPublica,
4 Aug. 2025
Verb
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But appearances can be deceiving because there's a lot of bright side here.—
Shubham Yewale,
PC Magazine,
14 Aug. 2025
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Some Russian media commentators also note how Alaska was once Russian territory, sold by Tsar Alexander II to the United States for a pittance in 1867 Many observers, particularly Russian, are dismissing the meeting as a sign Trump has allowed Putin to once again deceive him.—
Patrick Reevell,
ABC News,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Teams handle data all the time—but in many companies, the steps teams must take to stay compliant aren’t built into daily work.—
Jodi Daniels,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment’s Division of Labor Standards and Statistics (DLSS) handles enforcement and tracks complaints, of which there have been 2,228 filed since 2021, according to a dashboard maintained by the DLSS.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Denver Post,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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As a fixer, Miguel has arranged interviews with El Mayo’s inner circle.—
Jesse Hyde,
Rolling Stone,
7 Aug. 2025
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Interested buyers, their representatives or brokers can arrange for special tours.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The essay popularized the concept of the male gaze, classical Hollywood cinema’s propensity to address, embody, and shape film spectators as heterosexual and male.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
14 Aug. 2025
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This project not only helped individuals build financial stability but also strengthened our local economy by addressing skill gaps.—
Josh Bergeron,
Charlotte Observer,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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This is precisely why some companies are back in the lab to engineer new combustion-free ways to consume flower.—
Benjamin Adams,
Forbes.com,
5 Aug. 2025
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Isak is trying to engineer change too — in his case, a move from St James’ to Liverpool.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
1 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Manipulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manipulate. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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