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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of manipulate
China has manipulated the market by suppressing prices to drive Western competition from the market, said Ryan Castilloux, founder of Adamas Intelligence, a critical mineral market research firm.
—
Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2025
Lack of free and fair elections, with leaders manipulating the system to remain in power.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 28 Sep. 2025
And that won't get manipulated for political reasons and taken out of context.
—Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
With Danny held hostage, Maria’s life begins to flourish and that star pupil, Pauline, inches ever-closer to her favorite docent as sympathies slip away and oscillate between characters, the film making quick work of manipulating mounting emotions.
—Holly Jones, Variety, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for manipulate
Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2025
Lack of free and fair elections, with leaders manipulating the system to remain in power.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 28 Sep. 2025
And that won't get manipulated for political reasons and taken out of context.
—Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
With Danny held hostage, Maria’s life begins to flourish and that star pupil, Pauline, inches ever-closer to her favorite docent as sympathies slip away and oscillate between characters, the film making quick work of manipulating mounting emotions.
—Holly Jones, Variety, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for manipulate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manipulate
Verb
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Based on a true story, an aristocrat close to the Viceroy of New Spain begins a series of murders in 1637 Mexico City, exploiting his status to avoid justice.—
Anna Marie de la Fuente,
Variety,
1 Oct. 2025
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These days, Howard has become a huge defensive liability, and the Rams made sure to exploit him.—
James Boyd,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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At PortMiami on Thursday, several travelers express frustration over how the outbreak was managed by the cruise line.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
3 Oct. 2025
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How does a century-old industrial company such as Firmenich (renamed DSM-Firmenich following its 2023 merger with Dutch chemical firm DSM) manage to remain globally competitive today, given that a large share of its cost base is in the most expensive country in the world?—
Peter Vanham,
Fortune,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Democrats are also trying to pin the shutdown on Republicans, blaming Trump for not negotiating in good faith.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
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During his campaign, Pacheco touted the board’s efforts to reduce drug costs for members by negotiating new agreements with healthcare companies.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The lawsuit, filed by the FTC in June 2023 under the Biden administration, claimed that Amazon deceived tens of millions of customers into signing up for its Prime subscription program and sabotaged their attempts to cancel it.—
Annie Palmer,
CNBC,
25 Sep. 2025
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At its worst, AI can be used by bad actors and content farms to confuse or deceive listeners, push ‘slop’ into the ecosystem, and interfere with authentic artists working to build their careers.—
Abid Rahman,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Still, some industry critics have said Peloton's equipment isn't appropriate for gym settings because the machines can't handle higher frequency use, which prompted the company to create a more durable lineup.—
Gabrielle Fonrouge,
CNBC,
1 Oct. 2025
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Democrats say health care protections must be preserved, while Republicans say that funding and policy should be handled separately.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The continual delays have led to many embarrassing moments, the most recent coming last Tuesday, when, after Barca officials told the media the Camp Nou was ready, the Barcelona city council arranged a press conference of their own in reply.—
Pol Ballús,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
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For the Rolliefest finale, Hess and his team of organizers arranged a farewell cocktail party in the winter garden of the new private residences at the Waldorf Astoria, fresh off an almost-eight-year, multibillion dollar restoration.—
Victoria Gomelsky,
Robb Report,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But his remarks, which will be livestreamed to the public, will also provide a prime photo opportunity with Hegseth addressing hundreds of top military generals as their boss.—
Anne Flaherty,
ABC News,
30 Sep. 2025
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But neither publication addresses how this factor might explain trend shifts in hospital visits or how to zero in on that.—
Joan Meiners,
AZCentral.com,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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This is done, the company claims, by using ultra-smooth surfaces made from advanced composite materials engineered for both strength and durability, with minimal surface distortion.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
2 Oct. 2025
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PacBio uses special versions of the four bases that have been engineered to fluoresce in a characteristic color when exposed to ultraviolet light.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Manipulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manipulate. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
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