Standard Lemma guide

svengali

noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /svɛŋˈɡɑːli/
  • proscribed: /svɛnˈdʒɑːli/
  • rhymes with -ɑːli

1

noun

Meaning 1

One who manipulates or controls another as by some mesmeric or sinister influence; especially a coach, mentor or industry mogul.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Alternative letter-case form of svengali.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: alt-of

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

the musician in a novel by George du Maurier who controls Trilby's singing hypnotically

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: fictional character, fictitious character, character

4

noun

Meaning 4

someone (usually maleficent) who tries to persuade or force another person to do his bidding

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: persuader, inducer

History

Etymology

Named for the hypnotist character Svengali in George du Maurier's novel Trilby. More at citations.

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Galician: maquiavélico — One who manipulates or controls another as by some mesmeric or sinister influence; especially a coach, mentor or industry mogul.
  • Galician: rasputiniano — One who manipulates or controls another as by some mesmeric or sinister influence; especially a coach, mentor or industry mogul.
  • German: Manipulator — One who manipulates or controls another as by some mesmeric or sinister influence; especially a coach, mentor or industry mogul.
  • German: Strippenzieher — One who manipulates or controls another as by some mesmeric or sinister influence; especially a coach, mentor or industry mogul.
  • German: Drahtzieher — One who manipulates or controls another as by some mesmeric or sinister influence; especially a coach, mentor or industry mogul.
  • German: Puppenspieler — One who manipulates or controls another as by some mesmeric or sinister influence; especially a coach, mentor or industry mogul.
  • German: Graue Eminenz — One who manipulates or controls another as by some mesmeric or sinister influence; especially a coach, mentor or industry mogul.
  • German: Königsmacher — One who manipulates or controls another as by some mesmeric or sinister influence; especially a coach, mentor or industry mogul.