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Manipulative vs Cunning - What's the difference?

manipulative | cunning |

As adjectives the difference between manipulative and cunning

is that manipulative is using manipulation purposefully while cunning is sly; crafty; clever in surreptitious behaviour.

As nouns the difference between manipulative and cunning

is that manipulative is a manipulable object designed to demonstrate a mathematical concept while cunning is knowledge; learning; special knowledge (sometimes implying occult or magical knowledge).

manipulative

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Using manipulation purposefully.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2012-01
    • , author=Robert M. Pringle , title=How to Be Manipulative , volume=100, issue=1, page=31 , magazine= citation , passage=As in much of biology, the most satisfying truths in ecology derive from manipulative experimentation. Tinker with nature and quantify how it responds.}}
  • Tending to manipulate others.
  • (pejorative) Reaching one's goals at the expense of other people by using them.

    • Noun

    (en noun) (Mathematical manipulative)
  • A manipulable object designed to demonstrate a mathematical concept.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2008, date=April 25, author=Kenneth Chang, title=Study Suggests Math Teachers Scrap Balls and Slices, work=New York Times citation
    • , passage=Some children need manipulatives to learn math basics, Dr. Clements said, but only as a starting point. }} ----

    cunning

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) cunning, kunning, konnyng, alteration of earlier (etyl) cunninde, kunnende, cunnand, from (etyl) cunnende, present participle of . More at (l), (l).

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Sly; crafty; clever in surreptitious behaviour.
  • * South
    • They are resolved to be cunning ; let others run the hazard of being sincere.
  • (obsolete) Skillful, artful.
  • * Bible, Genesis xxv. 27
    • Esau was a cunning hunter.
  • * Bible, Exodus xxxviii. 23
    • a cunning workman
  • * Shakespeare
    • ''Tis beauty truly blent, whose red and white / Nature's own sweet and cunning hand laid on.
  • (obsolete) Wrought with, or exibiting, skill or ingenuity; ingenious.
    • cunning work
  • * Spenser
    • Over them Arachne high did lift / Her cunning web.
  • (US, colloquial, rare) Cute, appealing.
    • a cunning little boy
    (Bartlett)
    Synonyms
    * See also

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) cunning, kunnyng, partially from (etyl) *.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) Knowledge; learning; special knowledge (sometimes implying occult or magical knowledge).
  • Practical knowledge or experience; aptitude in performance; skill, proficiency; dexterity.
  • * 2005 , .
    • indeed at this very moment he's slipped away with the utmost cunning into a form that's most perplexing to investigate.
  • Practical skill employed in a secret or crafty manner; craft; artifice; skillful deceit.
  • The disposition to employ one's skill in an artful manner; craftiness; guile; artifice; skill of being cunning, sly, conniving, or deceitful.
  • The natural wit or instincts of an animal.
    • the cunning of the fox or hare
    Synonyms
    * (l) * (l) * (l)