Meaning & use
manipulation
Last updated
The act of controlling or influencing someone or something in a skillful, unfair, or deceptive way.
See it in a sentence
The advertisement relied on emotional manipulation to sell the product.
The mechanic's manipulation of the tiny gears required steady hands.
A note on using this word
Manipulation usually carries a negative connotation when applied to people, implying unfair or dishonest influence, but a neutral one when describing skillful handling of objects or data.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
honesty
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