Tom doesn't like people who manipulate others.
Source: tatoeba (1109231)
Manipulate
/məˈnɪp.jʊ.leɪt/
Synonyms for "manipulate" (355 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (71)
Noun(24 words)
abusesadjective of processadulteratinganglesappeal to emotionbias the databollixbrainwashedbrainwashingcheatscoercingconsingcontent area l1 usecontrol panel tamperingcookscoquettedeceivingdemagoguedemagoguesdiddles
Show 4 more words
Verb(17 words)
adjustairbrushedbrainwashbrainwashesbullshittedcheatedchoreographedcoercecoerce into agreementcoerce representationconnivecontrolcookcozendeceivedisaffectsdoctored
Strong matches (107)
Verb(29 words)
engineeredentrappingexploitedfakefalsifiedfalsifyfiddledfidgetedfinagledfinaglesfinessedfingeredfudgefudgedfutzedgamedgerrymanderedhandlehandledhypnotize
Show 9 more words
Noun(46 words)
Adjective(1 words)
Related words (177)
Verb(41 words)
Noun(56 words)
lab equipment handlinglaboratory material handlinglever actuationmarionettesmassagemassagesmassagingmisguidingmisleading examplemonkeyingmost engineered changeoperatingopinion shapingpervertspimpsployspreyprice control consequencesprocess oriented modelprocess quality
Show 36 more words
process verbpsychespsychingpsychspull magnitudepuppetpuppeteerspuppetsrachetrearrangingriggingrigsschemingskew resultssophisticatingspikesteering wheel turningtampertamperingtampersthumbingthumbstouchestoytoy network modeltoyingtoystrickstweakinguses of manufactured materialusingvoodooingwangleswatering can handlewheel turn mechanismswielding
lay down the lawleadlead onloadmachinatemake gomake the rulesmake use ofmanagemaneuvermanoeuvremassagemastermindmilkmisusenegotiateofficeroperateorchestrateorder
Show 59 more words
overseepackpalmpalpatepawpeel offperform onpilotplantplayplay gamesplay onplotplypokepoke atpracticeprescribepresume uponprocessprodpull stringspull the stringsquarterbackregulateretouchrigrunsaltschemesee toskippersolosophisticatestackstagesteerstringstrokesuck dryswingtake advantage oftake care oftake commandtake the leadtamper withtapteasethumbtouchtwiddleuseuse illutilizewanglewieldworkwork onwork upon
Adjective(1 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: abuse, abuses, adjective of process, adjust, adulterate.
- Sentence evidence is available for manipulate, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, derived_reverse, opengloss, wordnet, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "manipulate".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "manipulate"
Keep "manipulate" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "manipulate" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "manipulate", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "manipulate" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
16 entriesMore specific
6 entriesCollocations
5 entriesInflections
3 entriesDerivations
3 entriesTranslations
26 translations across 20 languages.
Belarusian
1 entries- маніпулі́раваць verb (move with the hands)
Bulgarian
1 entries- манипулирам verb (move with the hands)
Catalan
1 entries- manipular verb (move with the hands)
Chinese Mandarin
1 entries- 操纵 verb (move with the hands)
Dutch
1 entries- manipuleren verb (move with the hands)
Finnish
1 entries- käsitellä verb (move with the hands)
Galician
1 entries- manipular verb (move with the hands)
Hungarian
2 entries- kezel verb (move with the hands)
- manipulál verb (move with the hands)
Icelandic
2 entries- handleika verb (move with the hands)
- meðhöndla verb (move with the hands)
Ido
2 entries- manipular verb (move with the hands)
- manuagar verb (move with the hands)
Indonesian
1 entries- memanipulasi verb (move with the hands)
Italian
1 entries- manipolare verb (move with the hands)
Korean
1 entries- 조종하다 verb (move with the hands)
Polish
2 entries- manipulować verb (move with the hands)
- zmanipulować verb (move with the hands)
Portuguese
2 entries- manipular verb (move with the hands)
- manusear verb (move with the hands)
Romanian
1 entries- manipula verb (move with the hands)
Russian
2 entries- манипули́ровать verb (move with the hands)
- управля́ть verb (move with the hands)
Spanish
1 entries- manipular verb (move with the hands)
Tamil
1 entries- கையாள் verb (move with the hands)
Ukrainian
1 entries- маніпулюва́ти verb (move with the hands)
Sample sentences
14 total sentences available.
Can you really manipulate the thought and behavior of people by using subliminal messages?
Source: tatoeba (1890531)
Don't try to manipulate me.
Source: tatoeba (2275350)
You know how to manipulate me.
Source: tatoeba (2954568)
Showing 4 of 14 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "manipulate"?
Closest matches include abuse, abuses, adjective of process, adjust, adulterate.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "manipulate"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.