contrive vs manipulate

contrive

verb
  • To invent, to make devices; to form designs especially by improvisation. 

  • To project, cast, or set forth, as in a projection of light. 

  • To invent by an exercise of ingenuity; to devise 

manipulate

verb
  • To move, arrange or operate something using the hands 

  • To influence or control someone in order to achieve a specific purpose, especially one that is unknown to the one being manipulated and beneficial to the manipulator; to use 

  • To handle and move a body part, either as an examination or for a therapeutic purpose 

  • To influence, manage, direct, control or tamper with something 

How often have the words contrive and manipulate occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )