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Recent Examples of manipulative
The approach is legal and reflects the growing prevalence of aggressive political email appeals that critics say are often manipulative.
—
Joseph Morton, Dallas Morning News, 30 Jan. 2026
How the producers aren’t manipulative gods, but brilliant storytellers, animated by their own needs and insecurities, who sometimes push too hard in their quest to alchemize real people into three-act structure.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
In the film, Dano plays twins Paul and Eli Sunday, the latter being a preacher who proves as selfish and manipulative as the film’s intimidating protagonist, Daniel Plainview, played by Daniel Day Lewis.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Attackers can intentionally inject misleading or manipulative prompts to bypass security protocols or generate incorrect responses.
—Connie Etemadi, Miami Herald, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for manipulative
Joseph Morton, Dallas Morning News, 30 Jan. 2026
How the producers aren’t manipulative gods, but brilliant storytellers, animated by their own needs and insecurities, who sometimes push too hard in their quest to alchemize real people into three-act structure.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
In the film, Dano plays twins Paul and Eli Sunday, the latter being a preacher who proves as selfish and manipulative as the film’s intimidating protagonist, Daniel Plainview, played by Daniel Day Lewis.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Attackers can intentionally inject misleading or manipulative prompts to bypass security protocols or generate incorrect responses.
—Connie Etemadi, Miami Herald, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for manipulative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manipulative
Adjective
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Savings are only on brand names, which can be deceptive when comparing prices.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
10 Feb. 2026
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Novo has so far filed around 130 lawsuits dealing with deceptive marketing practices and consumer fraud, Kuckelman said.—
Annika Kim Constantino,
CNBC,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Their false claims about getting financially fleeced by Uncle Sam were fueled by a rather sophisticated, albeit deceitful and shameful lobbying campaign, sponsored by greedy gadflies out to make a quick buck.—
Tom Margenau,
Dallas Morning News,
1 Feb. 2026
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The book goes into the deceitful methods used to secure the interview, which was broadcast on 20 November 1995, and the interest in figuring out what happened that exists to this day.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
30 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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An about-face a few years down the line might look hypocritical in light of the new Super Bowl ad the company is releasing to highlight its announcement.—
Dominic Preston,
The Verge,
4 Feb. 2026
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Fellow Democrats Tony Thurmond and Antonio Villaraigosa attack Swalwell and Porter as hypocritical, pointing to their own stricter stances on federal immigration enforcement.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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That’s when my twelve-year-old brain experienced its first devious epiphany.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
7 Feb. 2026
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The ensemble includes Callum Turner, Elle Fanning, Jamie Bell, Riley Keough, Lukas Gage, Tracy Letts, Pamela Anderson, and Elena Anaya — and a new clip shared by Mubi, which is repping sales on the film at the festival, offers a devious taste of the drama.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Goldsworthy has made cunning edits of the landscape throughout Penpont.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
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Perhaps most perceptively captivating is the sweetly cunning way Marczak inserts himself into the film.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Ron Leibman and Paul Sand round out their gang, with Zero Mostel as the crooked attorney who serves as a go-between.—
Mark Olsen,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2026
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Descend its famously crooked path, flanked by cascading hydrangeas and storybook Edwardian homes—then watch cars zigzag through eight tight switchbacks while tourists crowd the sidewalks, snapping photos of its surreal descent.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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What your boyfriend did was inconsiderate and underhanded and showed disregard for your feelings.—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
9 Jan. 2026
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Bad decisions and underhanded betrayals ensue.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
23 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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After taking scheming actions, the model sometimes doubles down on its deception when asked follow-up questions.—
Harper’s Magazine,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
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What initially seems to be a satire about corporate downsizing evolves into a kind of scheming caper romp, before downshifting into something that feels more horror-comedy structured.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Manipulative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manipulative. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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