manipulative

adjective

ma·nip·u·la·tive mə-ˈni-pyə-ˌlā-tiv

-lə-

Synonyms of manipulative next

: of, relating to, or performed by manipulation

Osteopathy emphasizes manipulative techniques to correct abnormalities thought to cause disease and inhibit recovery.—

Carol L. Otis et al.

especially : serving or intended to control or influence others in an artful and often unfair or selfish way

a clever and manipulative child

manipulative behavior

Simpleminded as his critics found his ideas and remarks, cynical and manipulative as he may have been in actuality, he seemed to believe every word he said. —

Arthur Miller

manipulatively adverb

manipulativeness noun

Examples of manipulative in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

However, love bombing is often considered a manipulative tactic, aimed at overwhelming someone with attention to control their emotions. —

Lance Eliot, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024 The show follows a group of college friends, mainly centered on Lucy and her relationship with a manipulative upperclassman, Stephen. —

Leigh Nordstrom, WWD, 28 Oct. 2024 Others think that networking is about approaching other people with the blatant ulterior motive of selling something, as if the very essence of networking is transactional and manipulative. —

Jay Sullivan, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024 Read on to find out what happened to Assi and what Bhogal is doing now after admitting to the manipulative scheme. —

Monica Mercuri, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for manipulative