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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of manipulate
But critics warned that state governors could manipulate police under their control for political reasons.
—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
26 June 2026
Italian fascist leader Benito Mussolini did so when Italy hosted the 1934 World Cup, manipulating the games and handpicking officials to boost the chances for the home team, who went on to beat democratic Czechoslovakia in the final.
—
John A. Tures,
The Conversation,
26 June 2026
Abusive faith leaders often manipulate the religious language of spiritual authority and forgiveness to manipulate the trust of a minor.
—
ABC News,
25 June 2026
Willis possesses a unique ability to not just manipulate the pocket with his legs but make off-schedule throws, something that has become almost a necessity in today’s NFL.
—
Miami Herald,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for manipulate
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
26 June 2026
Italian fascist leader Benito Mussolini did so when Italy hosted the 1934 World Cup, manipulating the games and handpicking officials to boost the chances for the home team, who went on to beat democratic Czechoslovakia in the final.
—
John A. Tures,
The Conversation,
26 June 2026
Abusive faith leaders often manipulate the religious language of spiritual authority and forgiveness to manipulate the trust of a minor.
—
ABC News,
25 June 2026
Willis possesses a unique ability to not just manipulate the pocket with his legs but make off-schedule throws, something that has become almost a necessity in today’s NFL.
—
Miami Herald,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for manipulate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manipulate
Verb
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So far, there are no reports of the usbliter8 bug being exploited in the wild.
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However, Nawrocki is a nationalist politician who has exploited anti-Ukrainian sentiment for electoral gain.
Verb
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Both Ghana and England will walk away with a point after Ghana managed to hold off England in a heart-pounding final few minutes of stoppage time.
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Most of the site sits on private land, with a smaller portion managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
Verb
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But Iran denied making any new commitments on monitoring, with state media reporting that Tehran did not negotiate the nuclear issue during 18 hours of discussions.
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The Heat and other NBA teams have been allowed to negotiate with their own impending free agents since June 14 — the day after the last game of the NBA Finals.
Verb
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The thing is, a lot of people have a talent for deceiving the public.
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Park and weather officials alike emphasize to Grand Canyon visitors that hiking conditions can be deceiving.
Verb
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Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.
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The third baseman, playing in his first major league game since fracturing his ankle on May 12, 2025, couldn’t handle a Willson Contreras grounder with a man on first and one out.
Verb
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Agents also intercepted calls between the two discussing drug and firearm trafficking, during which Rodriguez arranged for deliveries to be made to his home.
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Accordingly, the house is raised 14 feet above the ground, with rooms arranged primarily on one level.
Verb
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Teen scientist wants to address individual community needs Instead of catering to automobile traffic like typical intersection signal systems, Jung said, SmartBlink adjusts crossing signal times based on the slowest pedestrian's pace.
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Though Aven never publicly addressed Kylee's allegations, the pair later reconciled.
Verb
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To meet this demand, the market required crops engineered for this new era, encouraging innovation that produced plants sturdy enough for cross-country travel and aggressive enough to thrive in any backyard soil.
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Unlike artists attempting to engineer their next viral moment, EMIN views the success as something that happened organically.
Cite this Entry
“Manipulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manipulate. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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