Svengali

[ sven-gah-lee, sfen- ]

noun

1. a person who completely dominates another, usually with selfish or sinister motives.

Svengali

/ svɛnˈɡɑːlɪ /

noun

1. a person who controls another's mind, usually with sinister intentions

Word History and Origins

Origin of Svengali¹

First recorded in 1940–45; after the evil hypnotist of the same name in the novel Trilby (1894) by George Du Maurier

Word History and Origins

Origin of Svengali¹

after a character in George Du Maurier's novel Trilby (1894)

Example Sentences

Additionally, they trickled out the role of gullible parents, who had outsourced the supervision of their children to Svengali coaches who were purportedly their tickets to athletic success, college scholarships and Olympic medals.

From Salon

Shinn is by no means the first entertainment industry Svengali to profit off other people’s talent and physical labor.

From Salon

Adam Neumann was the tall, handsome, barefoot, tequila-shooting, weed-smoking Svengali who booked rap stars for the office party, had aspirations to live forever, become the world's first trillionaire and expand his company to Mars.

From BBC

Trump uses his Svengali act to mesmerize millions into believing he cares about them, when it's obvious that he is only running for president to try and keep his aging, flaccid backside out of prison.

From Salon

He proceeded to appear live from the lobby on Bannon's podcast "War Room," joking with the onetime Trump Svengali about how all the authors in attendance should have dressed in drag.

From Salon