manipulation

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)The practice of manipulating or the state of being manipulated.

   “The dealer's manipulations could have removed cards from the deck.”

   “The rear portion of the tender top is flat and open so as to facilitate the manipulation of the water crane.”

2. (countable, uncountable)The skillful use of the hands in, for example, chiropractic.

   “After a few minutes of manipulation each week, she obtained days of relief from her neck pain.”

3. (countable, uncountable)The usage of psychological influence over a person, event, or situation to gain a desired outcome.

   “The counselor was able to reach the disturbed teen through positive psychological manipulation.”

   “Through subtle manipulations he orchestrated the downfall of his rival.”

   “A dormant and defunded CPB could have become vulnerable to future political manipulation or misuse, threatening the independence of public media and the trust audiences place in it, and potentially subjecting staff and board members to legal exposure from bad-faith actors.””