Manipulative example sentences
Related (13): manipulate, manipulation, manipulator, deceptive, cunning, scheming, devious, controlling, exploitative, dishonest, underhanded, calculating, conniving
"Manipulative" Example Sentences
Common Phrases
- manipulative behavior
- manipulative tactics
- manipulative person
- manipulative language
- manipulative nature
- manipulative way
- manipulative control
- manipulative relationship
- manipulative media
- manipulative pricing
Examples by Level
A1
- He is manipulative and always tries to trick people.
- The manipulative boy made his sister cry.
A2
- She used manipulative words to make him feel guilty about leaving.
- That manipulative advertisement tried to scare parents into buying the product.
B1
- Looking back, I realize how manipulative my ex was — I just didn't see it at the time.
- The manipulative way he apologized made it clear he wasn't actually sorry.
B2
- The manipulative framing of the debate made it impossible to discuss the actual issue.
- She'd grown so tired of his manipulative behavior that she finally walked away without explanation.
C1
- The manipulative undercurrents in their relationship had been there from the beginning, though she'd mistaken them for passion.
- What struck her most was not the manipulative tactics themselves, but how casually he deployed them, as if they were simply how one navigated the world.
C2
- The manipulative architecture of the system was designed not to deceive outright, but to make truth itself seem negotiable.
- He understood, perhaps better than most, that the most effective manipulative strategies were those that made the manipulated person feel like they'd chosen freely.
Examples by Scenario
🏠 Everyday Life
- My neighbor's manipulative comments about my garden made me paranoid I was doing something wrong.
- The manipulative way my roommate acted like the dishes were my responsibility when we both used them drove me crazy.
💼 Workplace
- The manipulative email from management tried to make us feel guilty for wanting a raise.
- His manipulative behavior in meetings — always taking credit for other people's ideas — finally got him fired.
📊 Business
- The manipulative pricing strategy made customers think they were getting a deal when they weren't.
- The company's manipulative marketing campaign targeted vulnerable populations and faced backlash.
🛒 Buying / Shopping
- The manipulative discount timer on the website made me buy something I didn't even want.
- That manipulative 'limited stock' warning is why I almost paid double for the shoes.
✈️ Travel
- The hotel's manipulative cancellation policy buried the real costs in the fine print.
- The manipulative tour guide kept steering us toward expensive restaurants he owned.
📚 Education
- The manipulative way the teacher graded based on participation made introverted students feel punished.
- My daughter came home upset because a classmate used manipulative tactics to get her lunch money.
❤️ Relationships
- After years of his manipulative behavior, she finally had the courage to leave.
- The manipulative guilt he laid on her about spending time with friends nearly destroyed her confidence.
📰 News / Politics
- The manipulative editing of the footage completely misrepresented what the politician actually said.
- The manipulative way both sides framed the issue made it impossible to have a real conversation.
💻 Technology
- The app's manipulative design kept pushing notifications to keep you scrolling.
- The manipulative algorithm showed you content designed to make you angry and keep you engaged.
📝 Formal Writing
- The study examined manipulative advertising techniques and their effects on consumer behavior.
- Regulations now require companies to disclose manipulative pricing strategies to protect consumers.