manipulate

/məˈnɪpjuleɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /məˈnɪpjuleɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /mə-ˈni-pyə-ˌlāt/ (ame, mw)

manipulate — verb

  • manipulatepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • manipulateshe / she / it
  • manipulatedpast simple
  • manipulating-ing form

1. to get people or situations to work in your favour by using clever methods that

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to get people or situations to work in your favour by using clever methods that are not honest, usually without the other person knowing what you are doing

例句

Hui discovered that her manager had manipulated the sales figures to hide falling profits.

manipulate + figures/data for dishonest purpose

Politicians sometimes try to manipulate voters by spreading false information before an election.

同義詞
  • control

    broader and more neutral; manipulation is a type of control that involves trickery

  • influence

    can be positive or negative; manipulation always implies hidden, self-serving intent

  • exploit

    more direct in its negativity, emphasises taking advantage of someone's weakness

  • manoeuvre

    implies strategic positioning, common in business or politics, often less openly dishonest

反義詞
  • support

    to help someone openly and honestly rather than control them secretly

文法句型

manipulate + person/group

manipulate + something (data, figures, public opinion)

manipulate + person + into + gerund

用法筆記

Subject is usually a person, group, or organization seeking an unfair advantage. The object can be a person, a group of people, or something abstract such as data, public opinion, or a situation. This sense almost always carries a negative moral judgment.

常見錯誤

❌She manipulated the schedule fairly so that everyone got a turn.
✅She arranged the schedule fairly so that everyone got a turn.
💡'manipulate' implies dishonesty, so combining it with 'fairly' creates a contradiction.
❌The manager manipulated his employees with respect.
✅The manager treated his employees with respect.
💡'manipulate' cannot carry a meaning of honest, respectful treatment.

2. to move, handle, or operate something with your hands in a skillful and careful

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

to move, handle, or operate something with your hands in a skillful and careful way

例句

Nila carefully manipulated the small buttons on the radio until she found a station.

The robot arm can manipulate objects as small as a grain of rice.

manipulate + small/delicate objects

同義詞
  • handle

    more general and less precise; manipulate suggests greater skill and delicacy

  • operate

    focuses on machinery or controls; manipulate can refer to any physical object worked by hand

  • work

    informal and broad; manipulate suggests careful, deliberate control

反義詞
  • drop

    to let go of something rather than hold and control it carefully

文法句型

manipulate + object/device/tool

用法筆記

Object is typically a physical item such as a tool, a control, or a small object. The action is deliberate and precise, not casual or rough.

常見錯誤

❌She manipulated the heavy suitcase up the stairs.
✅She carried the heavy suitcase up the stairs.
💡'manipulate' implies skillful, precise hand movements, not simply moving a heavy object.
❌He manipulated the door open angrily.
✅He pushed the door open angrily.
💡the skill and precision of 'manipulate' conflict with angry, forceful movement.

3. to treat a joint, muscle, or bone by pressing and moving it with your hands, esp

3.動詞及物C1
釋義

to treat a joint, muscle, or bone by pressing and moving it with your hands, especially to relieve pain or correct a problem

例句

Valentina's physiotherapist manipulated her shoulder after the injury to help it heal properly.

manipulate + body part for therapeutic purpose

The doctor gently manipulated the baby's leg to check whether the bone had healed correctly.

同義詞
  • adjust

    broader, can refer to any correction; manipulation in medicine suggests a specific hands-on technique

  • treat

    general medical term; manipulate is a specific type of treatment involving hand movements

  • massage

    focuses on soft tissue; manipulation often includes joint movement and bone positioning

文法句型

manipulate + body part (joint/spine/muscle)

用法筆記

Subject is typically a healthcare professional such as a physiotherapist, chiropractor, or osteopath. The object is a part of the body such as a joint, the spine, or a muscle group. Common in the context of sports injuries or chronic pain treatment.

常見錯誤

❌The doctor manipulated the patient's broken leg in surgery.
✅The doctor operated on the patient's broken leg in surgery.
💡'manipulate' for body parts refers to non-surgical hand techniques on joints and muscles, not surgical procedures on fractures.