Psychological Manipulation

noun a steep cliff, bank, or promontory

verb to try to deceive someone by making them believe something that is not true

adjective having a broad, steep face

• The businessman tried to bluff his way through the negotiations.
• Don't believe him, he's just bluffing.
• She's really good at calling someone's bluff.
• His confident demeanor was just a bluff to hide his insecurities.

noun the practice of persuading someone to do something by using force or threats

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• The use of coercion in negotiations is generally frowned upon in diplomatic circles.
• I don't like it when people try to use coercion to get their way.
• Using coercion to get what you want is just plain wrong.
• The storm's coercion of the trees made them bend and sway in submission.

noun a person who cheats or tricks others by persuading them to believe something that is not true

• The authorities were able to apprehend the notorious con artist who had been scamming people for years.
• I heard that Joe is a real con artist, always trying to pull a fast one on people.
• Watch out for that con artist, he's been known to swindle unsuspecting victims.
• Her ability to manipulate situations and people made her a con artist in the game of politics.

noun a person who cheats or tricks others by gaining their trust and persuading them to believe something that is not true

• The police arrested the confidence man for scamming elderly individuals out of their savings.
• I can't believe I fell for that confidence man's fake investment scheme.
• Watch out for that confidence man, he's always looking to take advantage of unsuspecting people.
• She was a confidence man when it came to negotiating business deals, always coming out on top.

verb engaging in deceitful or underhanded schemes

adjective acting in a deceitful or underhanded way

• The conniving businessman manipulated the stock market for his own gain.
• I can't believe how conniving she is, always trying to get her way.
• That conniving snake tried to steal my lunch from the break room.
• Her conniving ways were like a spider weaving a web of deceit.

noun a political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than by using rational argument

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• The demagogue's inflammatory speeches incited violence among the crowd.
• That demagogue always knows how to rile people up with his words.
• The demagogue is just a smooth-talking troublemaker.
• She was seen as a demagogue of the fashion world, influencing trends with her bold style choices.

adverb in a cunning or deceitful manner

• She guilefully manipulated the data to support her argument.
• He guilefully convinced his friends to cover for him.
• She guilefully finessed her way out of trouble.
• The politician guilefully danced around the tough questions during the interview.

noun Rasputin

• Grigori Rasputin was a controversial figure in Russian history.
• Have you heard about that mysterious guy Rasputin?
• Rasputin was one strange dude, man.
• His influence in the royal court was like Rasputin's hold over the Tsarina.

noun deftness; skill; craft

• The magician's sleight of hand was so skillful that no one could detect how he performed his tricks.
• I tried to learn some sleight of hand tricks from a YouTube video, but I just ended up dropping everything.
• That street performer has some serious sleight skills - you won't believe what he can do with a deck of cards!
• Her sleight in negotiating deals is unmatched in the business world.

noun the quality or state of being specious; superficially plausible, but actually wrong or misleading

adjective specious

• The speciousness of the argument was quickly exposed during the debate.
• His speciousness was so obvious that no one believed him.
• Her speciousness was off the charts - she couldn't fool anyone with that excuse.
• The speciousness of his promises left a bitter taste in everyone's mouth.

noun a person who is unwittingly manipulated by someone else to promote their own agenda or interests

adjective describing someone who is being used in this way

• The political strategist saw the activist as a useful idiot to further their own agenda.
• The boss always sees him as a useful idiot, doing all the work without getting any credit.
• He's just a useful idiot for the company, always doing what they say without question.
• The puppet leader was nothing more than a useful idiot for the real power behind the scenes.

noun a person or thing that persuades, such as a salesperson or a convincing argument

• The marketing team hired a professional persuader to help increase sales.
• I heard she's a great persuader when it comes to getting people to join her club.
• He's known as the ultimate persuader in our group of friends.
• Her eyes were like a persuader, convincing me to change my mind.

noun a person who uses deception to manipulate individuals into divulging confidential or personal information that may be used for fraudulent purposes

• A social engineer is someone who manipulates people into divulging confidential information.
• Watch out for those social engineers trying to scam you online.
• I heard that social engineer got caught trying to hack into a company's database.
• In a way, a good salesperson is like a social engineer, persuading customers to buy products.

noun the act of inciting or assisting someone to commit a crime

• The defendant was charged with aiding and abetting the criminal act, also known as abetment.
• She was accused of helping him commit the crime, which is called abetment.
• He got caught abetting his friend in the prank, what a troublemaker!
• Her constant encouragement only served as abetment to his reckless behavior.

verb to praise or admire excessively or slavishly

adjective showing excessive admiration or praise

• The author was praised for not adulating the political leader in his latest book.
• Stop adulating that celebrity, they're just a regular person like everyone else.
• Why are you always adulating that singer? They're not even that talented.
• The sun was adulating the flowers with its warm rays, making them bloom beautifully.