manipulate

US /məˈnɪpjəˌlet/

UK /mə'nɪpjʊleɪt/

B1
v.t.Transitive VerbTo try to control others to gain an advantage
Should I manipulate my friends and succeed at their expense?
v.t.Transitive VerbTo handle or work in a skillful manner
Craftsmen manipulate clay into all sorts of shapes
v.t.Transitive VerbTo control or influence (a person or situation) cleverly, unfairly, or unscrupulously.
He tries to manipulate people by making them feel guilty.
v.t.Transitive VerbTo handle or control (a tool or mechanism) in a skillful manner.
The surgeon had to manipulate the delicate instruments with precision.
v.t.Transitive VerbTo falsify or change (data or statistics).
Someone manipulated the data to hide the truth.