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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California’s attorney general, Rob Bonta, filed a suit against ExxonMobil last year that, in part, accuses the oil giant of deceptive claims regarding chemical recycling, which the company disputes.—
Susanne Rust,
Los Angeles Times,
22 May 2025
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During the defense’s cross-examination of Kid Cudi, lawyers representing Combs portrayed Ventura as deceptive of both men.—
Conor Murray,
Forbes.com,
22 May 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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McLaren’s Piastri began in pole position and initially held off Verstappen before the Dutchman displayed all the brilliance, cunning and bravery that has propelled him to four world championships, holding off the brakes as long as possible and sliding around the outside on the first turn.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
18 May 2025
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Unfortunately, Porsha isn’t cunning enough for this to work.—
Ile-Ife Okantah,
Vulture,
12 May 2025
Adjective
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Among them is Tonic, which stars Blair (Sin City: A Dame to Kill For) as Sebastian Poe, a struggling jazz pianist who is given 24 hours to kill a dangerous drug dealer (Westwick) by a crooked cop (Jaso Coviello), and spirals into a moral and emotional tailspin.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
15 May 2025
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Cigarette smoke, dames to kill for, crooked cops — latex super suit?—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
13 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 2 Jun. 2025.
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