What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
svengali
Example
The politician was accused of being a svengali, controlling his staff and manipulating the media. [svengali: noun]
Example
She felt like she was under the spell of a svengali, unable to resist his influence. [svengali: adjective]
mastermind
Example
The mastermind behind the heist was finally caught by the police. [mastermind: noun]
Example
She was the mastermind of the company's successful marketing campaign. [mastermind: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Mastermind is more commonly used than svengali in everyday language. Mastermind is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while svengali is less common and is often associated with negative or sensationalistic contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between svengali and mastermind?
Both svengali and mastermind are informal words, but mastermind is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, while svengali is typically associated with a more informal or sensationalistic tone.
