to manage or influence skillfully, esp. in an unfair manner

to manipulate people's feelings.

to handle, manage, or use, esp. with skill, in some process of treatment or performance

to manipulate a large tractor.

to adapt or change (accounts, figures, etc.) to suit one's purpose or advantage.

Medicine/Medical . to examine or treat by skillful use of the hands, as in palpation, reduction of dislocations, or changing the position of a fetus.

verb

leave alone

verb

employ , feel , finger * , form , manage , mold , operate , ply , shape , swing , thumb * , use , wield , work , beguile , conduct , control , direct , engineer , exploit , finagle , finesse , guide , handle , influence , jockey , machinate , maneuver , massage , negotiate , play , play games , pull strings , pull wires , push around , steer , upstage , knead , rig , scheme