manipulation

manipulation — noun

1. the act of controlling or influencing a person or a situation in a way that bene

1.名詞B2
釋義

the act of controlling or influencing a person or a situation in a way that benefits yourself, frequently using dishonest or indirect methods that the other person does not notice

例句

Reporters warned the public about the senator's manipulation of opinion through staged media events.

manipulation of + phrase (public opinion / media)

The documentary showed the company's systematic manipulation of records to hide losses from investors.

systematic manipulation of [records / data]

同義詞
  • exploitation

    Focuses on taking unfair advantage of someone's weakness or situation, often for financial gain; broader in scope than manipulation.

  • coercion

    Involves force, threats, or intimidation to make someone do something; stronger and more direct than manipulation.

  • deception

    Centres on lying or hiding the truth rather than influencing behaviour; the result is false belief, not necessarily changed action.

  • influence

    The most neutral term; simply means having an effect on someone's decisions without suggesting dishonesty.

反義詞
  • honesty

    The opposite moral quality — openness and truthfulness rather than hidden control.

  • transparency

    The opposite method — actions and intentions are visible and clear rather than concealed.

文法句型

manipulation + of + noun phrase

possession + manipulation + of + noun phrase

用法筆記

Carries a strongly negative connotation of dishonesty or underhandedness. The verb 'manipulate' is far more common in everyday speech than the noun form.

常見錯誤

❌His manipulation convinced the team to follow his plan.
✅His persuasion convinced the team to follow his plan.
💡'Manipulation' implies hidden, dishonest tactics, while 'persuasion' suggests open, reasonable argument.
❌Good leaders use manipulation to motivate their staff.
✅Good leaders use encouragement to motivate their staff.
💡'Manipulation' always has a negative tone; it is not used for positive leadership.

2. the skill or process of treating a person's muscles, bones, or joints by pressin

2.名詞B2
釋義

the skill or process of treating a person's muscles, bones, or joints by pressing, moving, or adjusting them with the hands, especially as a form of physiotherapy or chiropractic care

例句

After three sessions of spinal manipulation, the patient's lower back pain had almost completely disappeared.

spinal manipulation for pain relief

The physiotherapist used gentle manipulation of the shoulder to restore the athlete's range of motion.

gentle manipulation of [body part] joint

同義詞
  • adjustment

    Specifically used in chiropractic contexts for aligning the spine or joints; slightly narrower than manipulation.

  • mobilisation

    Refers to gentler, passive movement of a joint without the high-velocity thrust typical of manipulation; common in physiotherapy.

  • massage

    Focuses on soft tissue (muscles) rather than joints or bones; lighter and generally not used for realignment.

文法句型

manipulation + of + body part

adjective + manipulation

用法筆記

Common in medical, physiotherapy, and chiropractic settings. Carries no negative connotation — unlike sense 1, it is a purely clinical term.

常見錯誤

❌My shoulder pain got better after a manipulation by the massage therapist.
✅My shoulder pain got better after a manipulation by the physiotherapist.
💡In clinical English, 'manipulation' (sense 2) is performed by a trained professional such as a physiotherapist or chiropractor, not a general massage therapist.