manipulates
Works behind scenes
Manipulates is the third-person singular of manipulate, meaning to handle or control something with skill—or with cunning.
A physical therapist manipulates a patient's joints; a politician manipulates public opinion.
The word carries a negative connotation when applied to people: She manipulates everyone around her.
In technical contexts, to manipulate data or images is simply to work with them: The software manipulates large datasets efficiently.
Powers that shape behavior
- exploitsNotable daring actions
- coercesObtains by intimidation
- dominatesExerts supreme control
- pressuresForces urging action
deceives · gaslights · puppeteer · sways · leverages · schemes · cunning · ulterior
Grasping parts or manages
- operatesControls or manages
- adjustsAlters for improvement
- movesChanges in position
- positionsLocations or viewpoints held
arranges · works · shapes · molds · kneads · tweaks · maneuvers · repositions
Alters for improvement
- realignsAdjusts position anew
- repositionsMoves to new locations
- chiropractorPractitioner who adjusts spines
- osteopathManual medicine practitioner
joint · spine · vertebrae · therapeutic · mobilizes · massage · physiotherapy · orthopedic
Alters for improvement
- altersMakes something different
- modifiesChanges partially
- processesSeries of actions
- transformsChanges form completely
formats · filters · parses · queries · codes · spreadsheet · database · algorithm
Deceptively altered
- photoshoppedDigitally manipulated an image
- airbrushedEdited for artificial perfection
- retouchedEdited for improvement
- editedAltered for improvement
spliced · deepfake · fabricated · distorted · cropped · filtered · altered · tampered
influences
Powers that shape behavior
pressures · deceives · gaslights · puppeteer · sways · leverages · schemes · cunning · ulterior · conniving
handles
Grasping parts or manages
positions · arranges · works · shapes · molds · kneads · tweaks · maneuvers · repositions · rotates
adjusts
Alters for improvement
- realignsAdjusts position anew
- repositionsMoves to new locations
- chiropractorPractitioner who adjusts spines
osteopath · joint · spine · vertebrae · therapeutic · mobilizes · massage · physiotherapy · orthopedic · dislocated
edits
Alters for improvement
transforms · formats · filters · parses · queries · codes · spreadsheet · database · algorithm · variables
doctored
Deceptively altered
- photoshoppedDigitally manipulated an image
- airbrushedEdited for artificial perfection
- retouchedEdited for improvement
edited · spliced · deepfake · fabricated · distorted · cropped · filtered · altered · tampered · falsified
- emotional manipulationExploiting feelings for control
- photo manipulationEditing images digitally
- psychological manipulationControlling others through deception
- media manipulationDeliberate distortion of public information
- genetic manipulationAltering organisms' hereditary code
- image manipulationModifying digital visuals
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