wirepuller

A person who exercises an influence on others that is felt but not seen.

Noun

  1. A person who exercises an influence on others that is felt but not seen.
    • 'Filled with old doddering peers, cute financial magnates, clever wirepullers, big brewers with bulbous noses. All the enemies of progress are there — weaklings, sleek, slug, comfortable, self-important individuals. -...
    • […] there lies, alas, the tragedy of the millions of lives immolated by the ignorant peoples as the price paid for the deception practised upon them by the Imperialistic wirepullers. - 1919, Foreign Affairs: A Monthly...
  2. Synonym of snake (“tool for pulling cables”).

    Synonyms: snake

Origin

From wire + puller, suggesting the operator of a puppet; compare pull strings.

Forms

wirepullers