WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
ma•nip•u•la•tion
(mə nip′yə lā′shən),USA pronunciation n.
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026- the act of manipulating.
- the state or fact of being manipulated.
- skillful or artful management.
- French, equivalent. to manipule handful (of grains, etc; see maniple) + -ation -ation
- 1720–30
ma•nip•u•late /məˈnɪpyəˌleɪt/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object], -lat•ed, -lat•ing.
ma•nip•u•la•tive /məˈnɪpyəˌleɪtɪv, -lətɪv/USA pronunciation adj.
ma•nip•u•la•tor, n. [countable]See -man-1.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to manage or influence skillfully and often unfairly:He could manipulate people's feelings to get his way.
- to handle or use, esp. with skill:He manipulated a large tractor easily by the age of ten.
- to adapt or change (accounts, etc.) to suit one's purpose:manipulated the sales figures to "create'' a huge profit last year.
ma•nip•u•la•tive /məˈnɪpyəˌleɪtɪv, -lətɪv/USA pronunciation adj.
ma•nip•u•la•tor, n. [countable]See -man-1.
ma•nip•u•late
(mə nip′yə lāt′),USA pronunciation v.t., -lat•ed, -lat•ing.
ma•nip′u•lat′a•ble, adj.
ma•nip•u•la•tive
(mə nip′yə lā′tiv, -yə lə tiv),USA pronunciation adj.
ma•nip′u•la′tive•ly, adv.
ma•nip•u•la•to•ry
(mə nip′yə lə tôr′ē, -tōr′ē),USA pronunciation adj.
- to manage or influence skillfully, esp. in an unfair manner:to manipulate people's feelings.
- to handle, manage, or use, esp. with skill, in some process of treatment or performance:to manipulate a large tractor.
- to adapt or change (accounts, figures, etc.) to suit one's purpose or advantage.
- Medicineto examine or treat by skillful use of the hands, as in palpation, reduction of dislocations, or changing the position of a fetus.
- 1820–30; back formation from manipulation
- 3. juggle, falsify.
'manipulation' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
chiropractic
- clone
- document
- ease
- image processing
- manipulate
- market abuse
- nanotechnology
- operation
- osteopathy
- Perl
- social engineering
- soundcard
- spreadsheet
- taxis
- astute
- authority
- automanipulation
- backrub
- bungee
- choreography
- clean
- clean room
- condition
- debrief
- deprofessionalize
- dexterous
- digital photography
- finagle
- flimflam
- formal
- formalism
- genetic engineering
- hybrid
- intrigue
- iris
- Jacquard card
- jiggery-pokery
- Machiavellian
- Mach scale
- manipular
- mark
- masturbation
- micromanipulation
- mind games
- molecular biology
- monopoly
- mosaicism
- naprapathy
- normal