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
Later, Cynthia discovers that there are no cameras at Blue Farm and that Ginny manipulated her to help free Georgia.
—
Barry Levitt, Time, 5 June 2025
But the real margin of victory for the opposition — reportedly as much as a 40-point lead — was too large to convincingly manipulate.
—Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 3 June 2025
Attackers can design prompts that insert malicious instructions through seemingly innocent prompts, manipulate the model to reset its understanding of its role or subtly influence the model's output by feeding misleading information or context.
—Etay Maor, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
All platforms manipulate users to keep them scrolling.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for manipulate
Barry Levitt, Time, 5 June 2025
But the real margin of victory for the opposition — reportedly as much as a 40-point lead — was too large to convincingly manipulate.
—Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 3 June 2025
Attackers can design prompts that insert malicious instructions through seemingly innocent prompts, manipulate the model to reset its understanding of its role or subtly influence the model's output by feeding misleading information or context.
—Etay Maor, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
All platforms manipulate users to keep them scrolling.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for manipulate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manipulate
Verb
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Whether climate denial, corporate lobbying or inequitable wealth distribution, our systems often reward those who can exploit the system without regard for their impact on long-term system health.—
Maureen Metcalf,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
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Only in these areas will humanitarian aid be provided—by an American company under direct Israeli security arrangements—to avoid previous distribution arrangements that were exploited by Hamas.—
Assaf Orion,
Foreign Affairs,
3 June 2025
Verb
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Klamath Fire has been burning on federal land managed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
30 May 2025
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The city must manage costs — as difficult as that is to do politically — rather than searching for new ways to increase taxes.—
Phillip Molnar,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 May 2025
Verb
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For starters, unlike Trump’s single-minded focus on China during his first-term trade war, Trump 2.0 is sparring with every country on the planet with the ostensible goal of negotiating freer and fairer trade deals, from our closest democratic allies to the Chinese Communist Party.—
Tiana Lowe Doescher,
The Washington Examiner,
6 June 2025
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Here’s the thing, no employee should be left to negotiate basic dignity on their own.—
Aparna Rae,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Verb
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Even children who are online only in small doses likely see false or inaccurate information that might deceive them.—
Evan Orticio,
Scientific American,
2 June 2025
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In November, Dove pleaded guilty in Gaston County to a dozen felony charges related to illegally accessing police computer systems and helping someone deceive a polygraph test, The Gaston Gazette reported.—
Julia Coin,
Charlotte Observer,
30 May 2025
Verb
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Steve Klein, who has been executive director of the Cedar Cove Feline Conservatory & Education Center in Louisburg, Kansas for over a decade, has encountered numerous cases where owners were unprepared or ill-equipped to handle exotic animals.—
J.M. Banks,
Kansas City Star,
30 May 2025
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With his former defense attorneys now working for the government, Trump earlier this year tapped the elite Manhattan law firm of Sullivan & Cromwell to handle his criminal appeal.—
Peter Charalambous,
ABC News,
30 May 2025
Verb
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The park hosts various stargazing events, and larger groups can arrange hour-long astronomy programs (pending staff availability).—
Lydia Mansel,
Southern Living,
8 June 2025
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Fun fact: Cohen arranged the casting contract for his former Goonies costar Ke Huy Quan for Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022).—
Sarah Weldon,
EW.com,
7 June 2025
Verb
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The Real Housewives of New York City alum, 54, took to Instagram to address the discourse around her appearance at Sports Illustrated Swimsuit’s Swim Week 2025 runway show in Miami.—
Catherine Santino,
People.com,
3 June 2025
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DSPs address this by unifying discovery, classification, tokenization and policy enforcement into a singular platform.—
Ed Leavens,
Forbes.com,
3 June 2025
Verb
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Capelle’s signature compression liner, an innovation engineered for premium support, breathability, and lasting comfort, introduces a watercolor-shifting technology line of the swim trunks, allowing for all-day performance without compromising style or expression.—
Cassell Ferere,
Forbes.com,
7 June 2025
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This underwire bikini top is engineered to flatter AA, A, and B cups with a close fit that actually hugs your shape.—
Malia Griggs,
Glamour,
6 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Manipulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manipulate. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.
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