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
When Codi receives an invitation to test the simulator’s latest build, the message turns out to be a trap set by Pinkolaf, a vengeful AI creature born inside DinoGames that has learned to manipulate real-world electronics.
—
Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
In other cases, extremists have been convicted of manipulating children into cutting themselves or even killing pets on camera, records show.
—Curt Devine, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
Some older creep takes you aside and teaches you how to manipulate your girlfriends like a narcissistic abuse apprenticeship program?
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 10 Feb. 2026
Cat-eye polish can be manipulated into any number of intricate designs, including these mesmerizing swirls.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for manipulate
Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
In other cases, extremists have been convicted of manipulating children into cutting themselves or even killing pets on camera, records show.
—Curt Devine, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
Some older creep takes you aside and teaches you how to manipulate your girlfriends like a narcissistic abuse apprenticeship program?
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 10 Feb. 2026
Cat-eye polish can be manipulated into any number of intricate designs, including these mesmerizing swirls.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for manipulate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manipulate
Verb
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Republicans understand this gap and are exploiting it ruthlessly.—
Julian Baron,
Baltimore Sun,
16 Feb. 2026
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Investigators believe the husband ruthlessly exploited his wife on a large scale, prosecutor Ida Annerstedt said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But Posey, the executive, seems content to manage a massive talent debt to the Dodgers that grows larger by the day.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
18 Feb. 2026
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Coyotes also manage urban deer populations — a critical ecosystem function because ballooning deer herds can decimate forests, stunt plant growth and contribute to invasive species influxes.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Jackson also helped negotiate the release of hostages in Iraq and Cuba, and the two welcomed some of them home at the airport.—
Grant Stringer,
Mercury News,
18 Feb. 2026
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But the university, like so many others – Penn State and James Franklin (owed $49 million; negotiated down after he was hired by Virginia Tech), LSU and Brian Kelly (owed $54 million); Jimbo Fisher and Texas A&M (owed $76 million) – tied itself to a bad deal and now doesn’t want to pay.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Neglecting The Kitchen Sink Your sink may look spick-and-span, but looks can be deceiving.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
16 Feb. 2026
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But a superficial comparison between Delta, United, and American across certain headline metrics can be deceiving.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In contrast to task-specific systems like Isaac 0, companies such as Figure AI have developed general-purpose humanoids, such as the Figure 02, designed to handle a wide range of industrial and household tasks rather than specializing in a single task.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Feb. 2026
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Its network handles a range of freight services, including bulk commodity exports.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Prosecutors claim Sainz Salazar served as a key fentanyl producer for the Chapitos from about 2022 through 2025, helping manufacture millions of pills, arranging drug transactions under armed protection and operating labs that later became central to the group’s fentanyl production.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
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Mustique also has a small hotel, Cotton House, where 17 guest rooms and suites are arranged between a two-story building and a series of garden cottages.—
Flora Stubbs,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The White House did not address whether Tuesday’s vote would lead to Trump relying more heavily on executive action — something the president himself seemed to suggest during his interview with Kudlow.—
Naomi Lim,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Feb. 2026
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With increasing production complexity and a growing shortage of skilled labor, the Group views Physical AI systems as a robust solution to address gaps in both areas.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Stafford also engineered late game-winning drives in playoff victories over the Carolina Panthers and the Chicago Bears before the Rams suffered a 31-27 defeat by the Seahawks in the NFC championship.—
Gary Klein,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
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Material World is a weekly roundup of innovations and ideas within the materials sector, covering what’s changing in how fashion is made, scaled or engineered from emerging biomaterials and alternative leathers to sustainable substitutes and future-proof fibers.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Manipulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manipulate. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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