MANIPULATIVE: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for MANIPULATIVE?

Need another word that means the same as “manipulative”? Find 20 synonyms and 30 related words for “manipulative” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Manipulative” are: scheming, calculating, cunning, crafty, wily, shrewd, devious, designing, conniving, machiavellian, artful, guileful, slippery, slick, sly, unscrupulous, disingenuous, manual, done with one's hands, dexterous

Manipulative as an Adjective

Definitions of "Manipulative" as an adjective

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “manipulative” as an adjective can have the following definitions:

• Relating to manipulation of an object or part of the body.
• Skillful in influencing or controlling others to your own advantage.
• Exercising unscrupulous control or influence over a person or situation.

Synonyms of "Manipulative" as an adjective (20 Words)

artful	Not straightforward or candid; giving a false appearance of frankness- David Cannadine. Her artful wiles.
calculating	Acting in a scheming and ruthlessly determined way. The most calculating and selfish men in the community.
conniving	Acting with a specific goal. A heartless and conniving woman.
crafty	(of something pleasurable) consumed or done in an unplanned, surreptitious way. A crafty crook faked an injury to escape from prison.
cunning	Having or showing skill in achieving one’s ends by deceit or evasion. A cunning baby.
designing	Concealing crafty designs for advancing your own interest. A designing little minx.
devious	Showing a skilful use of underhand tactics to achieve goals. They arrived at the town by a devious route.
dexterous	Showing or having skill, especially with the hands. Dexterous of hand and inventive of mind.
disingenuous	Not straightforward or candid; giving a false appearance of frankness- David Cannadine. An ambitious disingenuous philistine and hypocritical operator who exemplified the most disagreeable traits of his time.
done with one's hands	Having finished or arrived at completion.
guileful	Marked by skill in deception. A supremely guileful and deceptive politician.
machiavellian	Of or relating to Machiavelli or the principles of conduct he recommended.
manual	Doing or requiring physical work. Manual dexterity.
scheming	Concealing crafty designs for advancing your own interest. A scheming gold digger.
shrewd	Mischievous; malicious. A shrewd east wind.
slick	Made slick by e g ice or grease. A slick commercial.
slippery	(of a word or concept) elusive in meaning because changing according to one’s point of view. Slippery sidewalks.
sly	Marked by skill in deception. A sly manipulative woman.
unscrupulous	Having or showing no moral principles; not honest or fair. Unscrupulous landlords might be tempted to harass existing tenants.
wily	Skilled at gaining an advantage, especially deceitfully. A wily old attorney.

Usage Examples of "Manipulative" as an adjective

• A manipulative skill.
• She was sly, selfish, and manipulative.
• The early manipulative techniques of a three-year-old child.

Associations of "Manipulative" (30 Words)

artful	Not straightforward or candid; giving a false appearance of frankness. An artful choice of metaphors.
artfully	In a way that is clever or skilful and also cunning. Body scanners are turning up artfully concealed items.
astute	Having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one’s advantage. An astute businessman.
catchy	Likely to attract attention. A catchy title for a movie.
chicanery	The use of deception or subterfuge to achieve one’s purpose. Storylines packed with political chicanery.
controlling	Able to control or determine policy. A controlling interest in the firm.
covert	A feather covering the base of a main flight or tail feather of a bird. Covert operations against the dictatorship.
crafty	(of something pleasurable) consumed or done in an unplanned, surreptitious way. A crafty crook faked an injury to escape from prison.
cunning	Ingenious. Cunning men often pass for wise.
deceitful	Intended to deceive. Smooth shining and deceitful as thin ice.
difficult	Characterized by or causing hardships or problems. A difficult economic climate.
dominant	A dominant trait or gene. This disorder is inherited as a dominant.
duplicity	The state of being double. The president was accused of duplicity in his dealings with Congress.
elusive	Difficult to remember. That elusive thing the soul.
fraudulence	Something intended to deceive; deliberate trickery intended to gain an advantage.
guile	The use of tricks to deceive someone (usually to extract money from them. He used all his guile and guts to free himself from the muddle he was in.
humbug	Deceive; trick. His comments are sheer humbug.
impalpable	Imperceptible to the senses or the mind. Impalpable shadows.
ingenious	(of a machine or idea) cleverly and originally devised and well suited to its purpose. An ingenious solution to the problem.
machiavellian	Of or relating to Machiavelli or the principles of conduct he recommended.
secretive	(of a state or activity) characterized by the concealment of intentions and information. She was very secretive about her past.
shrewd	Mischievous; malicious. She was shrewd enough to guess the motive behind his gesture.
skulduggery	Underhand, unscrupulous, or dishonest behaviour or activities. A firm that investigates commercial skulduggery.
sly	Having or showing a cunning and deceitful nature. Sly as a fox.
slyly	In a way that suggests some secret knowledge that may be harmful or embarrassing; knowingly. He slyly manipulates votes.
trickery	The practice of deception. The dealer resorted to trickery.
tricky	Not to be trusted- James Agee. Tricky Dick.
twisted	(of a joint) injured by wrenching; sprained. The crash left a trail of twisted metal across the carriageway.
wile	The use of tricks to deceive someone (usually to extract money from them. She didn t employ any feminine wiles to capture his attention.
wily	Skilled at gaining an advantage, especially deceitfully. His wily opponents.