as in deceptive
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Recent Examples of manipulative
His concept of Newspeak—a restricted, simplified language designed to make dissent unthinkable—has become a cultural shorthand for manipulative control.
—
Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
Dealing with an angry, manipulative addict can be soul-crushing.
—Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 8 May 2025
None of this — the Netflix exposé painting her childhood as hellish and her adolescence as haunted by the specter of a controlling, manipulative mother; the rabid backlash to it and endless coverage of it — is pushing Piper off social media.
—Fortesa Latifi, Rolling Stone, 1 May 2025
Yet his predilection for violence, as an uncontrolled impulse or a manipulative tool, was far from in check, according to court papers.
—Ben Sisario, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for manipulative
Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
Dealing with an angry, manipulative addict can be soul-crushing.
—Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 8 May 2025
None of this — the Netflix exposé painting her childhood as hellish and her adolescence as haunted by the specter of a controlling, manipulative mother; the rabid backlash to it and endless coverage of it — is pushing Piper off social media.
—Fortesa Latifi, Rolling Stone, 1 May 2025
Yet his predilection for violence, as an uncontrolled impulse or a manipulative tool, was far from in check, according to court papers.
—Ben Sisario, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for manipulative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manipulative
Adjective
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Last year, the Biden administration's Transportation Department opened an inquiry ordering American, Delta Air Lines, Southwest and United to provide records and submit reports to ensure consumers do not face unfair, deceptive, or anticompetitive practices.—
David Shepardson,
USA Today,
3 June 2025
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The quest to build human-level AI agents using techniques known to produce deceptive tendencies, Bengio says, is comparable to a car speeding down a narrow mountain road, with steep cliffs on either side, and thick fog obscuring the path ahead.—
Harry Booth,
Time,
3 June 2025
Adjective
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These reactions mirror talking points found in the online manosphere, the network of forums, podcasts, and content creators who frame women, especially Black women, as manipulative and deceitful.—
Susan Akyeampong,
Refinery29,
16 May 2025
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Unfortunately, a deceitful narrative was presented.—
Amira El-Fekki,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 May 2025
Adjective
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Kathleen O’Leary, Boca Raton Get a mirror, Marco The Republican Party is the most hypocritical group of politicians this country has ever seen, and Marco Rubio its biggest hypocrite of all.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
27 May 2025
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If that strikes you as a little suspicious, maybe even hypocritical, well, have both Bechdels got a book for you.—
Sam Thielman,
New York Times,
20 May 2025
Adjective
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After Joe secured his fourth immunity win, the two Ks hatched a devious plan of trying to convince Joe that Shauhin was flipping.—
Nick Caruso,
TVLine,
15 May 2025
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But the scam is particularly devious since the Trump administration has tried to revoke visas for foreign students while detaining others for views critical of Israel’s war in Gaza.—
Michael Kan,
PC Magazine,
14 May 2025
Adjective
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Hawkins knows exactly how to play Laura’s cheery psychopathy and cunning cruelties, and Wong, in her first film role, gives Piper a spirited independence.—
Jeannette Catsoulis,
New York Times,
29 May 2025
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Rigg’s voice is sharp and engrossing, her characters cunning but affable.—
Isle McElroy,
Vulture,
21 May 2025
Adjective
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Throughout the film, newspaper headlines and snippets of TV contextualize the story against the backdrop of anti-Vietnam demonstrations, colleges retaliating to student campus protests and aggressive policing, along with glimpses of Richard Nixon’s crooked grin.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
23 May 2025
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The moon's insides are crooked thanks to the near side being some 306 degrees Fahrenheit hotter at depth than its counterpart on the lunar far side.—
Ian Randall,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 May 2025
Adjective
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Cena, however, ultimately emerged victorious, squeaking by Orton via underhanded tactics to continue his heel run.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
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His underhanded attempt to maintain power over this case is a judicial power grab that the Department of Justice will fight by all means necessary.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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That would be Mark Rylance as Henry’s lord privy seal, Thomas Cromwell, an endlessly fascinating and ambiguous figure—brilliant, scheming, moral—whom Rylance animates with gravity and kaleidoscopic skill.—
Taylor Antrim,
Vogue,
20 Mar. 2025
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The doors that slam, as farcical doors are built to do, open to work spaces, where a good deal of time is spent scheming and counter-scheming.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Manipulative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manipulative. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.
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