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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of manipulate
Actors fear their likenesses and voices being replicated and manipulated without permission or payment.
—
Wendy Lee, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2025
Too often, instead of being met with care, they’ve been manipulated and handed division.
—Reshma Saujani, Time, 19 May 2025
The couple is accused of manipulating church members through fear and religious rhetoric.
—Miami Herald, 16 May 2025
Life-changing events, including the loss of a spouse, early onset dementia or another medical issue, can trigger changes in the way someone would react to anyone who is experienced at manipulating people to part with their money.
—Susan Tompor, USA Today, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for manipulate
Wendy Lee, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2025
Too often, instead of being met with care, they’ve been manipulated and handed division.
—Reshma Saujani, Time, 19 May 2025
The couple is accused of manipulating church members through fear and religious rhetoric.
—Miami Herald, 16 May 2025
Life-changing events, including the loss of a spouse, early onset dementia or another medical issue, can trigger changes in the way someone would react to anyone who is experienced at manipulating people to part with their money.
—Susan Tompor, USA Today, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for manipulate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manipulate
Verb
-
Our own threat research labs (CTRL) revealed five trends defining how bad actors will further exploit AI to advance their malicious intentions.—
Etay Maor,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
-
But their glaring weakness is in goal, and few teams are better equipped to exploit Skinner’s shakiness than Dallas, which sends line after line of scorers over the boards.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
Verb
-
In addition to managing the university’s rapid growth, Pullin will need to attract donors to help foot the bill.—
Kate Marijolovic,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 May 2025
-
Indiana’s stars struggled mightily in Game 5, with Tyrese Haliburton, the series MVP up until this point, managing just eight points on 2-of-7 shooting.—
Eric Koreen,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
Verb
-
The manufacturing giant had resumed negotiating with the IAM union on May 22.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
25 May 2025
-
The deal was negotiated between Signature Entertainment’s chief commercial officer Elizabeth Williams and HanWay Films’ Head of Sales Nicole Mackey.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
23 May 2025
Verb
-
Their book has already generated a national debate about whether the White House deceived the public about the president’s condition and how Biden’s late exit from the race undermined the Democratic Party’s chances of stopping a second term for President Trump.—
Stephen Battaglio,
Los Angeles Times,
20 May 2025
-
Although Bristol’s spring race may appear to have sparse crowds, this is somewhat deceiving.—
Jordan Bianchi,
New York Times,
19 May 2025
Verb
-
Intelligent chatbots and virtual assistants can handle many customer queries, freeing up human agents for more complex interactions.—
Ivan Ostojić,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
-
The Yanks lobbed them the title, and the Dodgers were barely able to handle the throw.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
Verb
-
At Emery’s request, the club arranged a warm-weather camp in Dubai during the March international break, including a couple of friendlies against local teams.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
28 May 2025
-
Clinics often arrange hotel stays and local transfers.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
28 May 2025
Verb
-
The opinion also addressed fears voiced by critics that allowing the firings of Wilcox and Harris would jeopardize the independence of the Federal Reserve.—
John Kruzel,
USA Today,
23 May 2025
-
Ye West, formerly known as Kanye West, made a rare public plea for forgiveness this week, addressing the hurt caused by his past antisemitic remarks.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
22 May 2025
Verb
-
In March 2025, Colossal unveiled its woolly mouse, engineered to carry genes for the mammoth's characteristic thick, golden coat and accelerated fat metabolism.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
24 May 2025
-
Instead, its bikes have always been engineered to deliver a characterful and enjoyable riding experience that can suit a wide range of riders.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
24 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Manipulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manipulate. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share