Cunning
Cunning adjective - Clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means.
Manipulative and cunning are semantically related in crafty topic. In some cases you can use "Manipulative" instead an adjective "Cunning".
Nearby Word: cunningly
Manipulative
Manipulative adjective - Skillful in influencing or controlling others to your own advantage.
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Synonyms for Manipulative
Cunning and manipulative are semantically related in scheming topic. You can use "Cunning" instead an adjective "Manipulative", if it concerns topics such as scheming to manipulate.
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
- sharp and cunning
- sharp and manipulative
- Machiavellian and cunning
- Machiavellian and manipulative
- sly and cunning
- sly and manipulative
- artful and cunning
- artful and manipulative
- designing and cunning
- designing and manipulative
- crafty and cunning
- crafty and manipulative
- insidious and cunning
- insidious and manipulative
Both words in one sentence
- Cartman himself is also the bratty jerk he was known for early on instead of the cunning and manipulative sociopath of the later seasons.
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Characterization Marches On: In the first few books, Angeline was more like a stereotypical popular girl, and Isabella was spacey and awkward instead of cunning and manipulative.
Source: Literature / Dear Dumb Diary - But underneath, he's manipulative and cunning enough that he even managed to briefly outwit their captain, Gotoh, who's known for being pretty damn manipulative, himself.
Source: Affably Evil / Anime and Manga
Cite this Source
Manipulative and Cunning. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 01, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/cunning/manipulative
Cunning & Manipulative. N.p., 2016. Web. 01 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/cunning/manipulative>.
Manipulative or Cunning. 2016. Accessed August 01, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/cunning/manipulative.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "cunning" and "manipulative" have occurred on timeline