Manipulations: meaning, definitions and examples

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manipulations

[məˌnɪpjʊˈleɪʃənz ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

medical

Medical procedures or techniques used to treat a patient's condition, often involving the use of hands or instruments.

Synonyms

procedure, therapy, treatment.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
manipulations	This term is often used in a medical or clinical context to describe manual or mechanical methods to remedy body functions, but can also refer to deceptive or controlling actions in a negative sense, particularly in psychological or social situations. The chiropractor performed some manipulations to relieve my back pain. His manipulations of the team members caused a lot of stress and distrust.
treatment	A broad term for any method or process used to address medical or psychological issues. It can refer to both short-term and long-term care strategies. The doctor prescribed a new treatment for her chronic condition. He is undergoing treatment for depression.
therapy	Used to describe treatments, particularly non-surgical ones, aimed at improving or curing health conditions. It often has a positive connotation related to mental health or physical rehabilitation. She goes to therapy once a week to manage her anxiety. Physical therapy helped him regain strength after his accident.

Word

Description / Examples

manipulations

This term is often used in a medical or clinical context to describe manual or mechanical methods to remedy body functions, but can also refer to deceptive or controlling actions in a negative sense, particularly in psychological or social situations.

The chiropractor performed some manipulations to relieve my back pain.
His manipulations of the team members caused a lot of stress and distrust.

treatment

A broad term for any method or process used to address medical or psychological issues. It can refer to both short-term and long-term care strategies.

The doctor prescribed a new treatment for her chronic condition.
He is undergoing treatment for depression.

therapy

Used to describe treatments, particularly non-surgical ones, aimed at improving or curing health conditions. It often has a positive connotation related to mental health or physical rehabilitation.

She goes to therapy once a week to manage her anxiety.
Physical therapy helped him regain strength after his accident.

Examples of usage

Chiropractors often use spinal manipulations to treat back pain.
The physical therapist performed knee manipulations to improve the patient's range of motion.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

deceitful

Devious or deceptive actions intended to influence or control a situation or person for personal gain.

Synonyms

exploitation, maneuvering, scheming.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
manipulations	Used when referring to skillful or sometimes deceitful handling or controlling of a situation, people, or objects. The manipulations used by the magician were mesmerizing She noticed his manipulations in the company's finances
scheming	Describes planning or plotting, often secretive and deceitful in intent, and is typically used in a negative sense. She was always scheming to get ahead in the company His scheming ways eventually led to his downfall
maneuvering	Refers to skillful and often strategic movement or handling of situations, frequently used in political or military contexts. His maneuvering in the debate left everyone impressed The general's maneuvering of his troops was crucial to their success
exploitation	Used in negative contexts to describe taking unfair or unethical advantage of someone or something, often for personal gain. The exploitation of workers in the factory is unacceptable They spoke out against the exploitation of natural resources

Examples of usage

The politician's manipulations of the media were exposed by investigative journalists.
She felt manipulated by his emotional manipulations.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word 'manipulation' comes from the Latin word 'manipulari', meaning to 'handle' or 'operate by hand'.
In English, it first appeared in the late 19th century, with a more neutral sense before gaining negative connotations.
The root 'manus' means 'hand', which ties back to the original idea of handling or managing something directly.

Psychology

In psychology, manipulation often refers to influencing emotions or behavior for personal gain, usually without the other person's informed consent.
Psychological manipulation can manifest in various ways, including gaslighting, where someone makes another doubt their perceptions or memories.
Experts note that understanding manipulation tactics can empower individuals to recognize and resist unwanted influence.

Pop Culture

Manipulation is a frequent theme in movies and TV shows, often associated with villains who control situations for selfish purposes.
In literature, characters who engage in manipulation may be portrayed as either cunning strategists or morally ambiguous figures, reflecting complex human nature.
Reality TV often showcases manipulation in social dynamics, where contestants strategize to influence each other's game-play.

Art and Media

In the visual arts, manipulation refers to altering images or using techniques to create specific effects, like digital photo editing.
The concept of manipulation is also explored in performance art, where the artist might control audience perceptions through various means.

Technology

In software and user interface design, manipulation refers to how users interact with and control digital objects or data.
The rise of data manipulation in the tech industry raises ethical questions about user privacy and consent in data gathering.

Translations

Translations of the word "manipulations" in other languages:

🇵🇹 manipulações

🇮🇳 हेरफेर

🇩🇪 Manipulationen

🇮🇩 manipulasi

🇺🇦 маніпуляції

🇵🇱 manipulacje

🇯🇵 操作

🇫🇷 manipulations

🇪🇸 manipulaciones

🇹🇷 manipülasyonlar

🇰🇷 조작

🇸🇦 تلاعبات

🇨🇿 manipulace

🇸🇰 manipulácie

🇨🇳 操纵

🇸🇮 manipulacije

🇮🇸 manipulationir

🇰🇿 манипуляциялар

🇬🇪 მანიპულაციები

🇦🇿 manipulyasiyalar

🇲🇽 manipulaciones

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #15,113, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.

...
15110 hostage
15111 doubting
15112 construing
15113 manipulations
15114 espoused
15115 algal
15116 forenoon
...