manipulative
/məˈnɪpjʊlətɪv
/adjective
1Exercising unscrupulous control or influence over a person or situation: she was sly, selfish, and manipulative...
- He has been shown to be dishonest, calculating, egocentric, manipulative and a control freak.
- It fitted with his manipulative desire to control and dominate.
- When the crown passed to Edward, just ten years old and physically frail, the way opened for manipulative adults to seize control.
Synonyms
scheming, calculating, cunning, crafty, wily, shrewd, devious, designing, conniving, Machiavellian, artful, guileful, slippery, slick, sly, unscrupulous, disingenuous, media-savvy
informal foxy
2Relating to manipulation of an object or part of the body: a manipulative skill...
- He would also be unable to undertake employment which involved prolonged fine manipulative skills.
Synonyms
manual, done with one's hands, dexterous
Derivatives
manipulatively
- You embarked upon this course of conduct deliberately and manipulatively to force the university to give a higher assessment.
- Of course among people there are all sorts of distortions of freedom - it is used manipulatively, coercively, selfishly, maliciously, ignorantly.
- Ava was sensual and alluring, if manipulatively cold.
manipulativeness
- It was hard at first to square Richard's manipulativeness with his stupidity until you saw that they were the formula for his success.
- The first obstacle is the shameless manipulativeness of the rap industry.
- Instead, two distinct factors relating to manipulativeness seemed to emerge.