MANAGE Synonyms: 103 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'manage' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of manage are conduct , control , and direct . While all these words mean "to use one's powers to lead, guide, or dominate," manage implies direct handling and manipulating or maneuvering toward a desired result. // manages a meat market

Q: Where would 'conduct' be a reasonable alternative to 'manage'?

The words conduct and manage are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, conduct implies taking responsibility for the acts and achievements of a group. // conducted negotiations

Q: When is 'control' a more appropriate choice than 'manage'?

In some situations, the words control and manage are roughly equivalent. However, control implies a regulating or restraining in order to keep within bounds or on a course. // controlling his appetite

Q: When can 'direct' be used instead of 'manage'?

The meanings of direct and manage largely overlap; however, direct implies constant guiding and regulating so as to achieve smooth operation. // directs the store's day-to-day business

manage

verb

ˈma-nij

Definition of manage

as in to handle

to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently as usual, she managed the crisis with a minimum of fuss

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to supervise

to look after and make decisions about managed a household and a business simultaneously

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to cope

to meet one's day-to-day needs it'll be hard for a few weeks, but we'll manage

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word manage distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of manage are conduct, control, and direct. While all these words mean "to use one's powers to lead, guide, or dominate," manage implies direct handling and manipulating or maneuvering toward a desired result.

manages a meat market

Where would conduct be a reasonable alternative to manage?

The words conduct and manage are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, conduct implies taking responsibility for the acts and achievements of a group.

conducted negotiations

When is control a more appropriate choice than manage?

In some situations, the words control and manage are roughly equivalent. However, control implies a regulating or restraining in order to keep within bounds or on a course.

controlling his appetite

When can direct be used instead of manage?

The meanings of direct and manage largely overlap; however, direct implies constant guiding and regulating so as to achieve smooth operation.

directs the store's day-to-day business

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 manage The Kleins are a commentary YouTube and podcasting family who have managed to be at the center of several controversies and friendship breakups over the years. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2026 Both pitching staffs demonstrated their depth in Friday night's opener, and managing pitch counts will be vital as both managers try to keep their bullpens fresh for the upcoming travel day. — Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026 Obama managed to thread the needle well enough to win a second term for himself in 2012, but the House remained Republican and the Senate followed suit in Obama's second midterm election in 2014. — Ron Elving, NPR, 24 Oct. 2026 A week later, however, the win-hungry Jayhawks did manage to solve Baylor’s winning ways versus KU courtesy of a thrilling 25-24 come-from-behind Homecoming Day victory over the Bears on Saturday at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for manage

Recent Examples of Synonyms for manage

Verb

Seventy-one percent also doubt that his village cooperatives policy—which plans to establish hubs in roughly 80,000 communities to handle basic-goods distribution, savings, and other rural services—would succeed.

— Jay Ganglani, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
The case remains under investigation and is being handled by the Sheriff’s Department Homicide Division, according to Arcadia police.

— Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of handle

Verb

Children under 12 must be accompanied by a supervising companion who is at least 14 years old.

— Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026
The California Department of State Hospitals contracts with Liberty Healthcare to supervise people convicted of specific crimes and who also struggle with significant mental health conditions.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of supervise

Verb

With financing costs still elevated, many car buyers are taking on larger loans and extending repayment terms to cope with affordability challenges, according to Edmunds.

— Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
Research has also found that across generational groups, greater user tendency to engage in social comparison, together with greater maladaptive ways of coping with emotions, is associated with more symptoms of anger, anxiety, and depression.

— Ashwini Nadkarni, Time, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of cope

Verb

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday the Pentagon has not manipulated the service.

— Jennifer Jacobs, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Without that provenance, the agent can’t reliably distinguish current operational truth from stale, incomplete or manipulated information.

— Shekhar Iyer, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of manipulate

Verb

Sanders, the Vermont socialist and two-time presidential candidate, is likely to chair the Senate panel responsible for overseeing labor, education, and healthcare next year if Democrats reclaim the chamber.

— David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 28 Oct. 2026
But the Chicago Board of Education oversees a $10 billion budget, larger than many big cities, along with aging buildings, ballooning debt and shrinking enrollment.

— Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of oversee

Verb

There are rippling gasps, drums, strings, sax, a vaguely Latin guitar, a sample of a woman talking about getting her hair done.

— Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 26 Oct. 2026
Sellers who have the option to pull their listing off the market are generally doing so.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of do

Verb

For example, my team and I designed a survivorship clinic at UPMC in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to address the most common issues head and neck cancer survivors experience.

— Marci Lee Nilsen, The Conversation, 22 Oct. 2026
Employees form a small team, select a non-profit, and begin work on addressing the community challenge.

— Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of address

Verb

Betsy Smith, the head of the Central Park Conservancy, the nonprofit which operates the park, cheered the passage of the bill.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
Such facilities successfully operate today, prioritizing community leadership, transparency, compensation and quiet all at once.

— Neil Chatterjee, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of operate

Browse Nearby Words

manacling

manage

manageable

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Style

“Manage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manage. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of manage

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