verb ·Common ·High school level

Definitions

Verb

1. 1
   To move, arrange or operate something using the hands transitive
2. 2
   treat manually, as with massage, for therapeutic purposed wordnet
3. 3
   To influence, manage, direct, control or tamper with something transitive

   "manipulate data"

4. 4
   hold something in one's hands and move it wordnet
5. 5
   To handle and move a body part, either as an examination or for a therapeutic purpose transitive

Show 6 more definitions

6. 6
   maintain influence over (others or oneself) skillfully, usually to one's advantage wordnet
7. 7
   To influence or control someone in order to achieve a specific purpose, especially one that is unknown to the one being manipulated and beneficial to the manipulator; to use transitive

   "cleverly manipulate"

8. 8
   manipulate in a fraudulent manner wordnet
9. 9
   To use the hands, especially in scientific experiments. dated, intransitive
10. 10
    influence or control shrewdly or deviously wordnet
11. 11
    tamper, with the purpose of deception wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms

rigabuseadulterateanglearrangebarnstorm

Example

More examples

"Tom doesn't like people who manipulate others."

Etymology

Back-formation from manipulation.

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.