Definition

1. Verb:
   • To handle or control something skillfully, especially with the hands: This meaning refers to physically operating or adjusting something with dexterity.
   • To control or influence someone or something cleverly, unfairly, or unscrupulously: This meaning refers to managing situations or people to one's own advantage, often in a deceptive or indirect way.
   • To alter or present data in a skillful but deceptive way: This meaning refers to changing information, figures, or records to create a false impression.

Examples of Usage

• Verb:
  • A technician can manipulate the controls to calibrate the machine. (This shows skillful physical handling.)
  • The politician was accused of trying to manipulate public opinion before the election. (This shows influencing people cleverly and often unfairly.)
  • It is illegal for companies to manipulate stock prices. (This shows controlling something unscrupulously.)
  • The accountant was fired for manipulating the financial records. (This shows altering data deceptively.)

Advanced Usage

• "To manipulate someone into doing something": to cleverly and often unfairly persuade someone to do what you want.
  • He manipulated his colleague into taking the blame for the mistake.
• "To manipulate a situation": to control or influence the circumstances of a situation to achieve a desired outcome.
  • She skillfully manipulated the situation to her advantage.

Variants and Related Words

• Manipulation (n): The action of manipulating something or someone.
  • The manipulation of the data was discovered by auditors.
• Manipulative (adj): Characterized by attempting to control or influence others in a clever and often unfair way.
  • He used manipulative tactics to get his way.
• Manipulator (n): A person who controls or influences others in a clever and unscrupulous way.
  • She was a shrewd manipulator of the media.

Synonyms

• Handle: To touch, hold, or move with the hands. (More neutral, less connotative of control.)
• Control: To exercise authoritative or dominating influence over. (Broader, can be direct or indirect.)
• Exploit: To use someone or a situation unfairly for one's own advantage. (Stronger negative connotation of unfair use.)
• Engineer: To arrange or bring about skillfully and often deviously. (Similar connotation of clever planning.)

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Manipulate" is not commonly used with particles to form standard phrasal verbs. Its meanings are typically expressed through the verb itself with prepositions like "into" or "for.")

Related Idioms

• "Pull the strings": To control events or the actions of other people, often secretly.
  • Although he wasn't the manager, he was the one pulling the strings behind the scenes. (This idiom is conceptually related to the idea of manipulating people or situations.)

Verb

1. treat manually, as with massage, for therapeutic purposed
2. control (others or oneself) or influence skillfully, usually to one's advantage
   • She manipulates her boss
   • She is a very controlling mother and doesn't let her children grow up
   • The teacher knew how to keep the class in line
   • she keeps in line
3. manipulate in a fraudulent manner
   • rig prices
4. tamper, with the purpose of deception
   • Fudge the figures
   • cook the books
   • falsify the data
5. hold something in one's hands and move it
6. influence or control shrewdly or deviously
   • He manipulated public opinion in his favor