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
And that is where they can be manipulated.
—
Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026
Journalists and other sources may be cited by the bots, but the people who control these AI products, such as Musk, now have a greater ability to manipulate how events are reported.
—Damon Beres, The Atlantic, 5 Jan. 2026
International election watchdogs, including the United States, say Maduro manipulated the ballot results in order to steal a third term in office and continue his dictatorial reign.
—Alana Wise, NPR, 3 Jan. 2026
Beyond the doubts and confusion, many Venezuelans also felt deep relief at the news of the ousting of Maduro — whose government watchdog groups and independent monitors manipulated the 2024 presidential election to secure victory.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 3 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for manipulate
Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026
Journalists and other sources may be cited by the bots, but the people who control these AI products, such as Musk, now have a greater ability to manipulate how events are reported.
—Damon Beres, The Atlantic, 5 Jan. 2026
International election watchdogs, including the United States, say Maduro manipulated the ballot results in order to steal a third term in office and continue his dictatorial reign.
—Alana Wise, NPR, 3 Jan. 2026
Beyond the doubts and confusion, many Venezuelans also felt deep relief at the news of the ousting of Maduro — whose government watchdog groups and independent monitors manipulated the 2024 presidential election to secure victory.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 3 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for manipulate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manipulate
Verb
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The 30-second spot cites a 2023 New York Times investigation into migrant children trafficked and exploited to work grueling jobs at factories, construction sites, farms and other dangerous work places.—
Nicole Nixon,
Sacbee.com,
5 Nov. 2025
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The organization, which represents the major film and TV studios, as well as major streaming platforms, argues in the letter that Instagram is trying to exploit the public’s trust in its ratings system for its own gain.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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In part, the McKinley administration standardized various press protocols and routines involved in managing the press corps—holding somewhat regular briefings, for example, and carefully timing White House announcements.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
7 Nov. 2025
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Because of delays, Peter, having committed to spending a year in Israel, turned to me to manage all aspects of this sprawling project.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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This has given the conflict a religious coloration, and political elites have also chosen to politicize the conflict to negotiate power and other interests, which has complicated the problem.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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One head of a negotiating delegation told CNN they were being charged more than $20,000 for two weeks in a three-bedroom apartment.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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To keep the most vulnerable safe, Ivan has to decide to confront the soldiers or deceive them at the potential cost of his life.—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
6 Jan. 2026
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Relying Too Much On Garbage Disposals Though the name may be deceiving, garbage disposals aren’t actually designed to dispose of all garbage.—
Quincy Bulin,
Southern Living,
3 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Perception is handled through a dual-lidar setup consisting of Halo and Sentinel systems.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Jan. 2026
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Questions regarding vehicle maintenance and specifications are handled by the City of Chicago's Fleet & Facility Management department, which manages all municipal equipment.—
Jermont Terry,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The goal of the program, arranged through the hotel concierge, is to encourage discovery of the soul of an area through bold design, local culture, and meaningful connections.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
5 Nov. 2025
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Insofar as it is left to the invisible hand to arrange these matters, this scenario seems truly unavoidable.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The measures, which had been agreed to in writing in mid-November 2023, were intended to address Lively’s concerns about on-set conduct and safety.—
Elizabeth Rosner,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
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This trend is not about a specific feature but a broad approach to bath design that addresses individual wellness.—
Kristina McGuirk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Khan blamed the army and the United States for engineering his ouster, and led energetic protests demanding immediate, fresh elections.—
Rafia Zakaria,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
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Those sensors have also been engineered to self-clean throughout a journey so that snow and ice aren’t able to accumulate fast enough to disrupt the vehicle’s line of sight, according to Tretter.—
Jackie Charniga,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Manipulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manipulate. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
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