manipulative
Americanadjective
-
influencing or attempting to influence the behavior or emotions of others for one’s own purposes.
a manipulative boss.
-
of or relating to manipulation of objects or parts of the body; serving to manipulate.
spinal manipulative therapy.
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of manipulative
First recorded in 1815–20; manipulat(e) ( def. ) + -ive ( def. )
Explanation
A manipulative person uses passive, sneaky strategies to get what they want, such as saying "Aren't you lucky to have all that chocolate!" when what they really want is for you to offer them one. Manipulative comes from the Latin word manus for "hand," and originally the English words that sprang from it like manipulate and manipulation referred to skill in physically handling objects by hand. The psychological sense we now associate with manipulative came much later on, but as anyone who has been successfully manipulated well knows, it often feels like you've been brilliantly manhandled.
Vocabulary lists containing manipulative
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Some might find that manipulative, but in the case of “I Swear,” any minor bit of cinematic sap is warranted.
From Salon • Apr. 26, 2026
Marns describes Figg as a "manipulative" man who would lie at any opportunity to cover himself.
From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026
The manipulative Jean, meanwhile, counsels both young women and has cast Mary in the role of her substitute daughter.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026
If I had one-tenth of her manipulative skills, I could have gotten more people to watch this movie.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 2026
He gives amazing speeches, writes fantastic op-eds and now newspaper features, spearheads community warmth drives...and he dates a manipulative ditz.
From "The Running Dream" by Wendelin Van Draanen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
