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

/ məˈnɪpjʊˌleɪt; məˌnɪpjʊləˈbɪlɪtɪ /

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

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

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

On the advertising side, Google said it already has policies that prohibit advertisers from using doctored or manipulated media or false claims that could undermine voter participation or trust in the election.

From Fortune

This ambiguity leaves it to the state to decide what kind of content is considered false or potentially harmful, and could allow those in power to manipulate the definition for political gain.

From MIT Technology Review

The court’s ruling was informed, in part, by tens of thousands of alternative maps demonstrating that the district boundaries had very likely been manipulated for political gain, the very definition of gerrymandering.

From Science News

The Authenticator analyzes videos or images and tells users the percentage chance that they’ve been artificially manipulated.

From Singularity Hub 

After manipulating the positronium atoms with a laser to put them in the appropriate energy level, the team hit them with microwave radiation to induce some of them to jump to another energy level.

From Science News

And from their power structure within the prisons they manipulate and control events on the streets.

From The Daily Beast

He studied our use of language and the way that words are manipulated to manipulate the populace.

From The Daily Beast

They are actually using the media around the galaxy to manipulate events and make people feel they have more power than they do.

From The Daily Beast

But tech geeks, with their superhuman ability to manipulate ones and zeroes, do.

From The Daily Beast

Porn is really the same as any other media product: People manipulate it to their purposes more than they are manipulated by it.

From The Daily Beast

Cleverly though they manipulate, cleanliness is not their besetting weakness.

From Project Gutenberg

Of course they have made up their minds you are erratic, and have not the least doubt that they can manipulate that loose screw.

From Project Gutenberg

I don't want to let him manipulate that light enough to send any signals to possible Mexican watchers, Overton.

From Project Gutenberg

He began to manipulate the cards, lying cramped on his side, and in doing so dropped two or three.

From Project Gutenberg

They felled the great trees and dragged them aside with powerful donkey engines to manipulate their gear.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• exploit
• handle
• influence
• maneuver
• shape