manipulative

[ muh-nip-yuh-ley-tiv, -yuh-luh-tiv ]

adjective

1. influencing or attempting to influence the behavior or emotions of others for one’s own purposes:

   a manipulative boss.

2. of or relating to manipulation of objects or parts of the body; serving to manipulate:

   spinal manipulative therapy.

noun

1. Usually manipulatives. any of various objects or materials that students can touch and move around in order to help them learn mathematical and other concepts:

   the use of blocks, flashcards, and other manipulatives in the classroom.

Other Word Forms

• ma·nipu·lative·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of manipulative¹

First recorded in 1815–20; manipulat(e) ( def ) + -ive ( def )

Example Sentences

The US actress was best known for playing Buffy the Vampire Slayer's younger sister Dawn Summers, and later took on the role of manipulative socialite Georgina Sparks in Gossip Girl as an adult.

From BBC

Mohler sneered that empathy is "an artificial virtue," calling empathy "destructive and manipulative."

From Salon

She said she wants to keep the national tests because “if we don’t, states can ... be a little manipulative with their own results and their own testing.”

From Los Angeles Times

He was described in court as "manipulative and predatory", and jurors were told his repeated offending against five victims was "a habit, a lifestyle".

From BBC

At this point, I don’t think Jaclyn did something that she felt was manipulative or malicious.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• canny
• considerate
• devious
• scheming
• shrewd
• wily