WordValemanipulate
to control cleverly or unfairly
In more detail
1. (verb) to handle or move something skillfully with your hands
2. (verb) to control or influence someone or something in a clever or unfair way, often to get what you want
Examples
- 1. The surgeon carefully manipulated the instruments during the operation.
- 2. She tried to manipulate her parents into giving her more money by pretending to be poor.
How to use manipulate
Manipulate has two distinct uses: a neutral technical sense (handling or operating physical objects skillfully) and a negative psychological sense (influencing someone deceptively). The negative sense is far more common in everyday English. When used of people, it almost always carries a judgmental tone implying unfair or unethical influence, whereas handle or maneuver may be neutral alternatives depending on context.
Common phrases
- manipulate the controls
- manipulate public opinion
- manipulate the market
- manipulate someone into doing something
- skillfully manipulate
Synonyms
handle · maneuver · control · influence · engineer
Word family
manipulation (noun) · manipulative (adjective) · manipulator (noun) · manipulated (adjective)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes use manipulate when they simply mean to handle or use something without any implication of trickery or unfairness, which can make ordinary actions sound suspicious or unethical.
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