Svengali (noun)

1. The interior designer acted as a svengali, manipulating the client into accepting his design choices.

2. Some cult leaders have been accused of being svengalis, exerting undue influence over their followers.

3. The villain in the anime series had a svengali-like persona, using cunning tactics to control others for his own gain.

4. In Greek mythology, the sorceress Circe was often depicted as a svengali, leading men astray with her magical powers.