Manipulation
/məˌnɪpjəˈleɪʃən/
Definitions
2 meaningsThe action of manipulating someone or something, typically to their disadvantage.
/məˌnɪpjəˈleɪʃən/
The skillful handling, controlling, or using of something or someone.
The advertisements employed emotional manipulation to sell their product.
💡 Simply: Think of it like carefully moving things around to get what you want, like subtly changing someone's mind or using information in a sneaky way. It's like being a puppeteer, but with people or situations.
👶 For kids: It's like when someone tries to trick you or control what you do or think. They might be trying to make you do something you don't want to.
More Examples
She was skilled at social manipulation, using people to her advantage.
Financial statements showed evidence of data manipulation.
How It's Used
"The politician was accused of manipulating public opinion to gain support."
"Understanding the psychology of manipulation is key in dealing with toxic people."
"The company used financial manipulation to inflate their profits."
The skillful handling or operation of something.
/məˌnɪpjəˈleɪʃən/
The skillful handling of something.
The surgeon's skilled manipulation of the instruments saved the patient's life.
💡 Simply: It's like when you're working with something and changing it in a specific way. Think about a chef carefully manipulating ingredients to create a dish.
👶 For kids: It's like when you're playing with something or changing it around to make it work the way you want.
More Examples
The software allowed for the manipulation of images.
The artist’s skillful manipulation of color and texture was remarkable.
How It's Used
"Genetic manipulation allows scientists to alter the DNA of organisms."
"The user interface allowed for easy manipulation of digital objects."
"The artist's manipulation of light and shadow created a dramatic effect."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
puppet on a string
A person controlled by someone else.
"He felt like a puppet on a string, manipulated by his boss's whims."
playing games
Acting in a manipulative or deceptive way.
"Stop playing games with my feelings!"
From Late Latin *manipulatio* ("handling, management"), from *manipulare* ("to handle, manage"), from *manipulus* ("handful, military unit"), from *manus* ("hand"). The word entered English in the 17th century.
The word 'manipulation' has been used since the 17th century, with its meaning evolving from a general sense of handling to include more specific connotations of control and influence.
Memory tip
Imagine using your hands to skillfully control puppets – that's manipulation!
Word Origin
"hand"