manipulate the truth

USAGE SUMMARY

"manipulate the truth" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means to intentionally distort or alter the truth in order to deceive or mislead. It can be used in various contexts, such as discussing politics, media, or personal relationships. Example: The politician was accused of manipulating the truth in his speeches to gain more votes from the public.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

Do you manipulate the truth to tell the best story?

The Guardian - Film

I don't have to manipulate the truth, I just have to reveal it.

The Guardian - Business

Is it possible to manipulate the truth of an image by simply cropping out key figures?

The New York Times

And who could expect President Bush's Pentagon to do anything less than manipulate the truth?

The New York Times

Certainly, to manipulate the truth is inexcusable as journalism, but what about as theatre?

The Guardian

Both camp's ads exaggerate and manipulate the truth in deeply misleading ways.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

Big companies, athletes, movie stars, product marketers, glossy magazines, designers, politicians, all twist their pitches and manipulate the truths to sell themselves.

Huffington Post

"He also manipulated the truth.

The New York Times

* Avoided conflicts where possible and manipulated the truth to that end.

The New York Times

"He is a political mastermind and is manipulating the truth on purpose to keep his voters," Ms. Alici said.

The New York Times

As they gain success in evading and manipulating the truth, liars find it increasingly easy to lie.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing sensitive topics, provide context and evidence to support claims about attempts to "manipulate the truth", to avoid accusations of bias or unfounded allegations.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "manipulate the truth" without providing specific examples or evidence to support the assertion, as this can weaken your argument and damage your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "manipulate the truth" functions primarily as a verb phrase, where "manipulate" is the verb and "the truth" is the object. It describes the action of intentionally distorting or altering facts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable expression.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

22%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Academia

6%

Encyclopedias

4%

Social Media

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "manipulate the truth" is a commonly used expression that describes the act of intentionally distorting facts to mislead or deceive. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. Analysis of usage patterns reveals its prevalence in news and media, scientific discussions, and formal business contexts. While the phrase carries negative connotations, its effective use requires providing specific examples or context to support any claims. Related phrases such as "distort the facts" or "bend the truth" offer alternative ways to express similar ideas with slightly different nuances. By understanding the phrase's function, purpose, and register, writers can use it effectively and responsibly.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Bend the truth

Implies stretching or distorting the truth without completely abandoning it.

Distort the facts

Focuses on twisting or changing factual information.

Spin the narrative

Implies crafting a narrative with a specific bias or agenda.

Misrepresent the reality

Emphasizes presenting a false or inaccurate version of reality.

Doctor the evidence

Suggests tampering with or falsifying evidence to support a false claim.

Twist the story

Suggests altering a narrative to create a misleading impression.

Obscure the reality

Focuses on making the truth unclear or difficult to perceive.

Color the facts

Highlights injecting bias or personal opinion into factual reporting.

Rewrite history

Suggests altering the historical record to serve a particular purpose.

Cook the books

Refers specifically to falsifying financial records.

FAQs

How can I use "manipulate the truth" in a sentence?

You can use "manipulate the truth" to describe situations where someone is distorting facts to mislead others. For example, "The politician was accused of trying to "manipulate the truth" about the economic situation to gain votes."

What's a less accusatory way to say "manipulate the truth"?

Instead of "manipulate the truth", you could use phrases like "spin the facts", "present a biased account", or "downplay certain details", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it ever acceptable to "manipulate the truth"?

Generally, "manipulate the truth" has negative connotations, implying deception. While there might be rare situations where withholding information is justifiable, actively distorting the truth is usually considered unethical.

What is the difference between ""manipulate the truth"" and "omit the truth"?

"Manipulate the truth" implies actively distorting facts, while "omit the truth" means leaving out important information, which can still be misleading but is a more passive form of deception.