manipulate

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "manipulate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to someone or something that has been deliberately changed or managed to suit a purpose. For example: "The politician manipulated the public's opinion of her by making false promises during her campaign."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

While some staff members had said they felt pressured to manipulate data, the report said there had been no systematic culture of bullying.

The Guardian

Mostly unemployed, poor and disenchanted by corrupt governments, Somali youths are relatively easy to manipulate.

The Guardian

Ronaldo had blasted a fifth-minute free-kick into the wall but, with Toni Kroos and Isco to the fore, the defending champions began to manipulate the ball with purpose.

The Guardian - Sport

The boss of Barclays, Bob Diamond, is under mounting pressure after the bank was hit with fines of £290m for its "serious, widespread" role in trying to manipulate the price of crucial interest rates that affect the cost of borrowing for millions of customers around the world.

The Guardian - Business

In both cases they often manipulate their voice or body to mimic them.

The Guardian - Opinion

Complaining of "black propaganda against the Chilean armed services", British officials tried to manipulate the news.

The Guardian - Opinion

Related: From Britain to Beijing: how governments manipulate the internet The Guardian spoke to two former employees of the troll enterprise, one of whom was in a department running fake blogs on the social network LiveJournal, and one who was part of a team that spammed municipal chat forums around Russia with pro-Kremlin posts.

The Guardian

She said that Barclays traders' attempts to manipulate interest rates "to try to benefit trading positions is wholly unacceptable.

The Guardian - Business

It's used by politicians to manipulate people.

The Guardian

Technically bankrupt, but without the ability to manipulate its own currency any more, it had no choice but to ask for international help.

The Guardian

There's no question that the banks, as well as almost all of their rivals, did manipulate Libor.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In technical contexts, use "manipulate" to describe the handling of data or physical objects. In social contexts, use it cautiously to avoid implying deceit or unethical behavior.

Common error

Avoid using "manipulate" when a more neutral term like "influence", "guide", or "operate" would be more accurate. Using "manipulate" inappropriately can introduce unintended negative connotations.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "manipulate" is a transitive verb, requiring a direct object. As Ludwig AI confirms, it signifies changing or managing something, often skillfully or deviously. Examples show it used in contexts ranging from data handling to influencing people.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

As Ludwig AI confirms, the word "manipulate" is a verb that can be used to describe the act of influencing, controlling, or handling something, often in a skillful or deliberate manner. It is a very common term found across various contexts, including news, business, and science. Be mindful of its potential negative connotations, and consider more neutral alternatives like "handle" or "manage" when appropriate. The high source quality and expert rating underscores its established usage in formal and informal contexts. Examples from Ludwig showcase a range of applications, highlighting the importance of considering the intended meaning and context when using "manipulate".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Influence surreptitiously

Clearly marks the action of "influence" as shady, or clandestine. More in line with the negative connotations of "manipulate".

Exploit

Emphasizes using something or someone for one's own advantage, often unfairly, similar to the negative connotations of "manipulate".

Control

Implies direct command or regulation, whereas "manipulate" suggests indirect or skillful handling.

Engineer

Implies skillfully arranging or designing something, often with a specific outcome in mind, akin to "manipulate".

Influence

Suggests a more subtle and persuasive effect compared to the direct action implied by "manipulate".

Orchestrate

Implies carefully arranging events or actions to achieve a desired outcome, sharing the deliberate planning aspect of "manipulate".

Handle

Focuses on managing or dealing with something, lacking the negative connotation often associated with "manipulate".

Steer

Suggests guiding or directing a course of action, similar to influencing but with a sense of control.

Manage

Implies organization and oversight, different from the potentially deceptive nature of "manipulate".

Direct

Suggests giving instructions or guidance, a more straightforward approach than "manipulate".

FAQs

How can I use "manipulate" in a sentence?

You can use "manipulate" to describe influencing something, often indirectly or deceptively, such as "The politician tried to manipulate the media" or physically handling something, as in "The surgeon can manipulate the instrument with precision".

What are some alternatives to "manipulate" that don't imply deception?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "control", "handle", "manage", or "operate" to convey a more neutral sense of influencing or dealing with something.

When is it appropriate to use "manipulate" instead of "influence"?

"Manipulate" is suitable when the influence involves skillfulness, and possibly deceit or indirect methods. "Influence" is a broader term for affecting something, without necessarily implying trickery. If the influencer is leveraging tricks, lies, and deception, "manipulate" would be more accurate.

What is the difference between "manipulate" and "maneuver"?

"Manipulate" often implies influencing or controlling something or someone, sometimes deviously. "Maneuver" /s/maneuver usually refers to skillfully or strategically moving or guiding something, often physically or in a tactical sense, without the negative connotation.