manipulate
verb (used with object)
to manage or influence skillfully, especially in an unfair manner.
were manipulating
-
past progressiveof manipulate.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
With “facilitated communication,” parents were convinced they were liberating the trapped thoughts of their autistic children through a keyboard, unaware they were manipulating their children’s hands.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2025
In all, they found more than 3100 parasite genes with increased expression while they were manipulating their hosts.
From Science Magazine ● Oct. 19, 2023
"It felt as thought there was somebody in the depths of an office block, the lights dimmed, and they were at a Horizon terminal and they were manipulating the figures."
From BBC ● Feb. 18, 2022
He felt that the Mariners were manipulating Kelenic’s service time not putting him on a MLB roster that featured utility infielders and waiver claim Philip Ervin starting most games in the corner outfield spots.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 26, 2021
If the large city dealers were manipulating the market it was done through our office and we knew their plans.
From The Romance and Tragedy by William Ingraham Russell
