student asking question

What's the difference between "control" and "manipulate"? Are they always interchangeable?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

These words a fairly similar in meaning but are not the same. "Control" means to order, limit, or rule someone/something. "Manipulate" means to influence something or someone to your advantage or benefit. Ex: She manipulates men so they can buy her things. Ex: He was manipulated into stealing money for his friends. Ex: Some politicians manipulate the media. Ex: I can't control her. She can make her own decisions. Ex: He couldn't control his child in the mall. Ex: No one can control the weather.

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