WordGarden.iomanipulate
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /mənˈɪpjʊlˌeɪt/
US
- /məˈnɪpjəˌleɪt/
Meanings
Verb
to control or influence a person or situation in a calculated or unfair way
to handle, move, or operate something skillfully with the hands or controls
to alter or process data, images, text, or other material by technical means
Beyond the definition
To manipulate someone means to control or influence them in a clever way, often unfairly, so they do what you want. Think of a puppeteer moving strings to make a puppet dance; the puppet moves, but not by its own choice.
You might see this in politics, where candidates try to shape public opinion with carefully planned messages. Or a friend might push you into doing their chores by making you feel guilty. The word is not always about treating people badly; people also manipulate data, tools, or objects by changing or handling them in a skillful way. Still, when it is about people, "manipulate" is usually negative and suggests that someone is being used without fully realizing it.
The word "manipulate" describes skillfully controlling, influencing, or handling someone or something. It often suggests an indirect method, using pressure, strategy, or deception instead of open force to reach a goal. For example: "The con artist manipulated the elderly woman into giving him her life savings."
The word is not always about bad intent. A skilled negotiator might manipulate the terms of a deal to help a client. An advertiser manipulates emotions through images and stories to persuade people to buy a product. A scientist might manipulate variables in an experiment to test a hypothesis, and a physical therapist might manipulate a patient's joints to improve mobility.
However, when the word is used about people, it often has a negative meaning. It can suggest using someone's weaknesses, playing on their emotions, or twisting information to gain control. Someone who is manipulative is not being open or honest; they are quietly steering others toward their own goals. You might say, "He manipulated her into believing his lies," or "She felt used and manipulated after the meeting."
Historically, "manipulate" comes from the Latin word manipulus (a handful), which is derived from manus (hand) and plere (to fill). It originally referred to the skilled manual handling of objects or tools. Over time, this sense of physical control evolved to encompass more psychological and social forms of influence.
So, whether it is a clever business tactic, a deceptive scheme, or a scientific process, "manipulate" is about guiding, controlling, or handling something in a deliberate way, often indirectly and sometimes at the expense of another person's freedom to choose.
Examples
- 1
Physical therapy
The therapist gently manipulated my shoulder until it moved more easily.
- 2
Robotics
The robot can manipulate tiny parts that are too small for human fingers.
- 3
Image editing
You can manipulate the image by changing the brightness and color.
- 4
Data analysis
The software helps researchers manipulate large amounts of data.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Workplace pressure
She felt that her manager was trying to manipulate her.
- 6
Advertising influence
Advertisements sometimes manipulate people into buying things they do not need.
- Patternmanipulate someone into doing something
influence someone so they do it
- 7
Unfair advantage
He manipulated the situation so that he would get the easiest task.
- 8
False accounting
The company was accused of manipulating the figures to hide its losses.
- 9
Market abuse
Several traders were fined for trying to manipulate the market.
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
- empower
- respect autonomy
Used with (collocations)
- manipulate someone into doing something
- emotionally manipulate someone
- manipulate public opinion
- manipulate the truth
Word family
Explore
- propaganda
- psychological control
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- manipulateverb
Forms
- manipulatedpast tenseverb
- manipulating-ing formverb
- manipulatesverb