WordLens

manipulate

1 of 1verb
/məˈnɪpjəˌleɪt/
Forms:manipulates,manipulating,manipulated,manipulated
1

to control or influence someone cleverly for personal gain or advantage

transitive
  • The con artist manipulated his victims into giving him their money by playing on their emotions.
  • She manipulated her colleagues into doing her work for her by pretending to be overwhelmed with tasks.
  • The dictator manipulated the media to spread propaganda and control public opinion.
  • He manipulated the stock market by spreading false rumors to drive up the price of a certain stock.
  • The cult leader manipulated his followers into believing he had divine powers and could lead them to enlightenment.
2

to skillfully control or work with information, a system, tool, etc.

C1transitive
  • She's able to manipulate complex data sets to extract meaningful insights for her research.
  • The artist skillfully manipulated the clay into a beautiful sculpture.
  • The magician amazed the audience with his ability to manipulate cards and perform sleight of hand tricks.
  • He was able to manipulate the complex machinery with precision, ensuring that everything ran smoothly.
  • She learned to manipulate the controls of the aircraft with confidence during her flight training.
3

to skillfully adjust or move body parts for diagnostic, therapeutic, or corrective purposes

transitive
  • The physical therapist gently manipulated my injured knee for rehabilitation.
  • The doctor manipulated my arm to assess joint flexibility.
  • Mom learned to manipulate her fingers during hand therapy.
  • The massage therapist manipulates my neck muscles to release tension.
  • The orthopedic surgeon manipulated the joint to check for mobility.
4

to change or control information, data, or facts in a way that intentionally deceives or misleads others

transitive
  • The politician manipulated the data to make the economy look better than it actually was.
  • He manipulated the statistics to hide the real results of the experiment.
  • The company manipulated the numbers in their financial report to appear more profitable.
  • He tried to manipulate the test results by altering the inputs.
Synonyms:
5

to alter or influence something to benefit one's own interests

transitive
  • She manipulated the report to ensure her project got approved.
  • He manipulated the evidence to make his argument seem stronger than it was.
  • The coach manipulated the rules to give his team an advantage during the game.
  • The software was manipulated to track users' behavior without their knowledge.
  • He manipulated the situation to make himself look like the hero in the office drama.