manipulate

[ muh-nip-yuh-leyt ]

verb (used with object)

, ma·nip·u·lat·ed, ma·nip·u·lat·ing.

1. to manage or influence skillfully, especially in an unfair manner:

   to manipulate people's feelings.

2. to handle, manage, or use, especially with skill, in some process of treatment or performance:

   to manipulate a large tractor.

3. to adapt or change (accounts, figures, etc.) to suit one's purpose or advantage.

   Synonyms: falsify, juggle

4. Medicine/Medical. to examine or treat by skillful use of the hands, as in palpation, reduction of dislocations, or changing the position of a fetus.

manipulate

/ məˌnɪpjʊləˈbɪlɪtɪ; məˈnɪpjʊˌleɪt /

verb

1. tr to handle or use, esp with some skill, in a process or action

   to manipulate a pair of scissors

2. to negotiate, control, or influence (something or someone) cleverly, skilfully, or deviously
3. to falsify (a bill, accounts, etc) for one's own advantage
4. (in physiotherapy) to examine or treat manually, as in loosening a joint

Derived Forms

• maˈnipulatively, adverb
• maˈnipulatory, adjective
• manipulability, noun
• maˈnipuˌlator, noun
• maˌnipuˈlation, noun
• maˈnipulative, adjective
• maˈnipuˌlatable, adjective

Other Words From

• ma·nipu·lata·ble adjective
• ma·nip·u·la·to·ry [m, uh, -, nip, -y, uh, -l, uh, -tawr-ee, -tohr-ee], adjective
• nonma·nipu·lative adjective
• nonma·nipu·la·tory adjective
• outma·nipu·late verb (used with object) outmanipulated outmanipulating
• unma·nipu·lata·ble adjective
• unma·nipu·lated adjective
• unma·nipu·lative adjective
• unma·nipu·la·tory adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of manipulate¹

First recorded in 1820–30; back formation from manipulation

Word History and Origins

Origin of manipulate¹

C19: back formation from manipulation, from Latin manipulus handful

Example Sentences

“When we’re really emotionally stimulated, it makes it so much more challenging to have civil conversation. For politicians, I think that’s powerful, because emotions can be very easily manipulated.”

From Los Angeles Times

But what composers can do in myriad ways is to document, through sounds, what the world is like today as well as to interact with or manipulate sounds that heighten our awareness of nature.

From Los Angeles Times

"I've heard 'I was manipulated', I've heard 'I drank a glass of water, I was drugged'. But at what point did they not realise?"

From BBC

Yet, it was an elaborate scam - a web of deceit spun by scammers who manipulated her every move and drained her and her family’s life savings.

From BBC

The Sisterhood engineers bloodlines, manipulating matches between great houses to cultivate leaders the Bene Gesserit can control, thereby influencing the flow of power.

From Salon

Related Words

• exploit
• handle
• influence
• maneuver
• shape