manipulate

verb

mə-ˈni-pyə-ˌlāt How to pronounce manipulate (audio)
Definition of manipulatenext
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

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 The attorney general's office also alleges that Foster-Smith manipulated the crime scene in an attempt to conceal the killing before fleeing the location. — Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 29 June 2026 Most troublingly, Anthropic said, was a case in which the model was manipulated into producing code that demonstrated how a vulnerability could be exploited. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 1 July 2026 The new blind spots create a space where employees can manipulate markets and trade on material nonpublic information (MNPI) without being easily detected. — Kelvin Dickenson, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 Among the schemes cited by officials was ATM jackpotting, a technically sophisticated form of theft in which criminals manipulate ATMs through malware, network intrusion or physical tampering to trigger unauthorized cash withdrawals. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for manipulate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manipulate
  1. exploit
  2. manage
  3. negotiate
  4. deceive
  5. handle
  6. arrange
  7. address
  8. engineer
Verb
  • Jim has repeatedly said that as AI becomes better at uncovering software flaws, businesses will need increasingly sophisticated tools to identify, patch, and defend against those vulnerabilities before hackers can exploit them.
    — Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 3 July 2026
  • Firmware updates often fix security holes that attackers love to exploit.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
Definition of exploit
Verb
  • The situation is pressing, but Coleman still manages to make a connection.
    — Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 5 July 2026
  • The platform has consistently managed volume over $1 billion daily since the soccer tournament began on June 11.
    — Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 4 July 2026
Definition of manage
Verb
  • The market is oversaturated, and Riley is a genius for not only recognizing that but realizing that all of these new DJs are going to need lawyers to negotiate their contracts.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 2 July 2026
  • The decision, which was widely anticipated, does not end the pact immediately, but rather kicks off a decade-long annual review process for the three countries to negotiate on the treaty until the USMCA officially expires in 2036.
    — Joey Garrison, USA Today, 2 July 2026
Definition of negotiate
Verb
  • Part of the robot’s training was to handle situations in which its handlers have deliberately deceived it.
    — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 6 July 2026
  • With or without Balogun, the co-host will be feeling confident against a Belgium team that has flattered to deceive in this tournament so far.
    — David Hickey, NBC news, 6 July 2026
Definition of deceive
Verb
  • About 55% of injuries happen to people actively handling fireworks, and nearly a quarter of the injuries are to bystanders.
    — Stephen J. Beard, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Key indicators include how teams handle uncertainty, genuinely challenge each other, learn from failures, and base decisions on current realities.
    — Tracy Lawrence, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of handle
Verb
  • The floorplan is arranged with a clear separation between the living areas and private sleeping quarters of the home.
    — Bridget Borgobello July 03, New Atlas, 4 July 2026
  • Bunting arranged this way is appropriate for covering a speaker’s desk, draping the front of a platform or general decoration.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 3 July 2026
Definition of arrange
Verb
  • Nationals officials also addressed the matter with the right-hander.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
  • The attorney also addressed the letter to several email addresses listed on the Brownsville Energy Storage Terminals website.
    — Justin Elliott, ProPublica, 2 July 2026
Definition of address
Verb
  • Top-end homes are increasingly being engineered with structural systems more commonly associated with commercial buildings, including extensive steel framing that enables larger expanses of glass and fewer interior columns.
    — Mark David, Robb Report, 4 July 2026
  • While the community is defined by open space, the house itself is engineered to work with the climate, not fight it.
    — David Caraccio Updated July 4, Sacbee.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of engineer

Browse Nearby Words

man in the street
manipulate
manipulated
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Cite this Entry

“Manipulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manipulate. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on manipulate

Nglish: Translation of manipulate for Spanish Speakers

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