Synonyms of manipulate

manipulate

verb

mə-ˈni-pyə-ˌlāt 

1

as in to exploit

to control or take advantage of by artful, unfair, or insidious means

the con man would slyly manipulate the emotions of his marks in order to win their sympathy and trust

Synonyms & Similar Words

• exploit
• deceive
• play (upon)
• maneuver
• trick
• engineer
• delude
• devise
• fool
• hoodwink
• dupe
• finagle
• scheme
• defraud
• jockey
• arrange
• plot
• bluff
• cheat
• intrigue
• beguile
• snow
• swindle
• gull
• contrive
• take in
• cozen
• kid
• machinate
• mastermind
• finesse
• shanghai
• hoax
• con
• chisel
• fleece
• hustle

2

as in to manage

to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently

spin doctors manipulating the data to make it seem more favorable to their preferred candidates

Synonyms & Similar Words

• manage
• handle
• address
• negotiate
• treat
• take
• play
• maneuver
• field
• cope (with)
• swing
• hack
• contend (with)
• grapple (with)
• control
• pull
• come to grips with
• regulate
• have a grip on
• carry out
• engineer
• steer
• get off
• carry off
• direct
• guide
• finesse
• respond (to)
• react (to)
• jockey
• micromanage
• command
• bring off
• run

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• botch
• fumble
• mishandle
• bungle
• goof (up)
• mess (up)
• scamp
• louse up
• muff
• foozle

3

as in to negotiate

to plan out usually with subtle skill or care

manipulated the schedule of presidential primaries so that the choice of the party elders would win the nomination

Synonyms & Similar Words

• negotiate
• arrange
• engineer
• manage
• maneuver
• plot
• contrive
• finagle
• finesse
• frame
• machinate
• conclude
• wangle
• mastermind
• scheme
• conduct
• work out
• handle
• connive
• hammer out
• concoct
• concert
• direct
• intrigue
• angle (for)
• hatch
• compass
• cook (up)
• brew
• command
• run
• gerrymander
• quarterback
• captain

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• blow
• butcher
• gum (up)
• mangle
• botch
• mishandle
• fumble
• bungle
• mess (up)
• louse up
• muff
• flub
• bobble

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of manipulate

As part of the charm offensive, Rivera and a co-defendant, political consultant Esther Nuhfer, sought to manipulate influential friends, including Rubio and Sessions. — Joshua Goodman, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Researcher Peter Garrigan told Fox News Moonshot AI's Kimi model could also be manipulated to provide information on planning terrorist attacks using real-time data, creating sarin gas, developing malware and taking down aircraft. — Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Virginia, your story uses dark humor to manipulate readers into sympathizing with Winifred before turning on them. — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026

Improving communication and identifying pressures that manipulate the protection plan will be critical. — Mike Defabo, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026