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
The league has been criticised recently, amid claims that clubs were manipulating the rules around what warranted postponements.
From BBC ● Jan. 19, 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
It was as if the hackers knew they were being traced … almost as if they were manipulating the telephone system to defeat the AFP investigation.
From Underground by Suelette Dreyfus
