MANIPULATIVE Synonyms: 94 Similar and Opposite Words

manipulative

adjective

Definition of manipulative

as in deceptive

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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 manipulative Arasha enjoys a few choice manipulative moves in her litany of parts, reversing situations that seem to have no obvious good outcome. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026 At times, Marianne’s second-act emotional breakdown feels siloed from the rest of the picture, but the strands coalesce beautifully in an emotionally overwhelming finale that’s tearjerking, but never manipulative or overly sentimental. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2026 Beneath the polished surface of Estonia’s elite ice rinks, a Russian hockey prodigy ruled by his violent father and an Estonian figure skater groomed by a manipulative coach fall in love across a national divide. — Annika Pham, Variety, 6 Oct. 2026 The dangerous weight-loss regimens, extreme surgeries, and manipulative competition format had already turned viewers off by the end of the series’ second and final season. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for manipulative

Recent Examples of Synonyms for manipulative

Adjective

But several Theranos staffers and journalists say Holmes was frequently deceptive and would lie repeatedly, especially when confronted with facts.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
California and Hawaii, for example, are two states that have banned sharing deceptive AI content about candidates in the months around an election.

— Jordi Calvet-Bademunt, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of deceptive

Adjective

Hanuman inspires him to avenge the rape of his mother by a corrupt policeman working for a deceitful Hindu nationalist spiritual leader.

— Sohini Sarah Pillai, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026
Magpies are opportunistic scavengers, incredibly cunning and deceitful and capable of calculated deception.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of deceitful

Adjective

The fine was controversial to begin with, as fans and pundits pointed out the NFL’s business with beer sponsors such as Bud Light and called the sensitivity over the celebration hypocritical.

— Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Oct. 2026
In his appeal, Juszczyk also argued that fining players for pretending to drink beer was hypocritical given the NFL’s beer sponsorships.

— Rick Maese, Washington Post, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of hypocritical

Adjective

Salton is devious and untrustworthy, but is Batter’s only clear path to a promotion.

— Leigh Haber, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
The latest frontier model, with apparent human-level faculties, had gone rogue – displaying dangerous, even devious online behaviors.

— Michael Serazio, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of devious

Adjective

Magpies are opportunistic scavengers, incredibly cunning and deceitful and capable of calculated deception.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 2026
Last week, Alan Cumming’s cunning competition empire The Traitors unsheathed its most diabolical twist yet.

— Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of cunning

Adjective

Finding no legal recourse in a city with a crooked police department and judiciary, Matt gives in to despair.

— Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026
Others convicted in relation to the robbery included Brian Reader, a career criminal who was involved in other high-profile robberies before and after Brink’s-Mat, crooked solicitor Michael Relton, and McAvoy’s wife, Kathleen.

— Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of crooked

Adjective

When batting, a player faces an adult who pitches slow and underhanded for four throws.

— Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
While underhanded lenders will go after anyone who can fog a mirror, seniors should be especially careful, the report says.

— Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of underhanded

Adjective

Meanwhile, the palace has been besieged by loutish suitors, led by the scheming Antinous (Robert Pattinson), all of them vying for the queen’s hand in remarriage and mooching off the absent king’s food and wine.

— Justin Chang, New Yorker, 17 July 2026
The show gestures at the classic targets of old-timey sexism, small-mindedness, and nativism—much of it embodied by Gasteyer’s scheming character—but only in the safest possible ways.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2026

Definition of scheming

Browse Nearby Words

manipulations

manipulative

mankind

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“Manipulative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manipulative. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of manipulative

adjective

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