to manipulate
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to manipulate
To influence someone or a situation skillfully and often in an unfair or dishonest way in order to achieve one's own goals.
Er versuchte, die öffentliche Meinung durch gezielte Falschinformationen zu manipulieren.
He tried to manipulate public opinion through targeted false information.
The word comes from the Latin 'manus' (the hand). This explains the double meaning: you can have both people (in a figurative sense) and devices (literally) 'in your hand' and control them deliberately.
Die Fähigkeit, feinste Instrumente zu manipulieren, ist für einen Chirurgen entscheidend.
The ability to manipulate the finest instruments is crucial for a surgeon.
Like most verbs ending in '-ieren', 'manipulieren' (to manipulate) is regular and inseparable. It is especially important that the past participle is formed without 'ge-': 'hat manipuliert' (has manipulated).
Er hat die Software so manipuliert, dass sie schneller läuft.
He manipulated the software so that it runs faster.
You can tell whether the negative (m01) or technical (m02) meaning is intended from the object. If the verb refers to people, opinions, or elections, it is about influence. If it refers to devices, data, or machines, it is about technical handling.
Die Opposition warf der Regierung vor, die Wähler zu manipulieren.
The opposition accused the government of manipulating the voters.
In the meaning of 'beeinflussen' (to influence), 'manipulieren' (to manipulate) is often used with social or political objects, e.g. 'die Wahlen manipulieren' (to manipulate the elections), 'die Presse manipulieren' (to manipulate the press), or 'jemanden emotional manipulieren' (to manipulate someone emotionally).
In der Diktatur wurde die Presse systematisch manipuliert.
In the dictatorship, the press was systematically manipulated.
to change
'verändern' and 'manipulieren' can both mean that you act on something and make it different. 'verändern' is neutral: a change can be good, bad, or simply necessary. 'manipulieren' often sounds negative, especially with people, opinions, or situations. In that case, it means that someone is influencing something unfairly or secretly. With devices or data, 'manipulieren' can also refer to deliberate technical handling. The words are easy to confuse because both describe a change. But 'manipulieren' usually carries the additional idea of control, intention, or dishonesty.
Der Verkäufer manipuliert die Kundin mit falschen Versprechen.
The salesperson manipulates the customer with false promises.
Vor der Reise verändert meine Mutter noch die Route.
Before the trip, my mother changes the route again.