kingmaker

About 0.06 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. noun Someone who has strong influence over the choice of a leader.
2. noun A player who is unable to win but powerful enough to decide which of the other viable players will eventually win.

Similar words

powerbroker make-king decisionmaker puppet master opinion-maker opinionmaker rulemaker decision-maker decision maker opinion maker

Often followed by

in and of for who was had to role

Word family

kingmakers