adj
Uncommon
manipulative
muh-NIHP-yuh-luh-tihv
Manipulative (adj) means Inclined to control or influence others unfairly for personal gain. Example: “His manipulative behavior eventually cost him all his friends.”
adj
1
Inclined to control or influence others unfairly for personal gain.
"His manipulative behavior eventually cost him all his friends."
noun
1
A physical object used to teach or demonstrate a mathematical idea.
"Some children need manipulatives to learn math basics, Dr. Clements said, but only as a starting point."
— Kenneth Chang, Study Suggests Math Teachers Scrap Balls and Slices (2008)
"The teacher handed out counting manipulatives for the lesson on fractions."
How to use manipulative
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone who deliberately controls or influences others in an unfair way.
Common pairings
manipulative behavior
emotionally manipulative
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Word forms
- Plural
- manipulatives
- Comparative
- more manipulative
- Superlative
- most manipulative
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His _____ behavior eventually cost him all his friends.
Etymology
From manipulate plus the adjective-forming suffix -ive.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for manipulative
See all rhymes for manipulative →Frequently asked questions
What does “manipulative” mean?
The word “manipulative” means inclined to control or influence others unfairly for personal gain. In plain terms, someone who deliberately controls or influences others in an unfair way.
How do you pronounce “manipulative”?
“Manipulative” is pronounced muh-NIHP-yuh-luh-tihv (/məˈnɪp.jə.leɪ.tɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “manipulative” in a sentence?
Here is “manipulative” used in a sentence: “His manipulative behavior eventually cost him all his friends.”
What is another word for “manipulative”?
Words with a similar meaning to “manipulative” include controlling.
What part of speech is “manipulative”?
Depending on how it is used, “manipulative” can be an adjective and a noun.
Is “manipulative” a common word?
“Manipulative” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “manipulative” have?
“Manipulative” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: inclined to control or influence others unfairly for personal gain.
