kingmaker
noun
king·mak·er
ˈkiŋ-ˌmā-kər 
: one having great influence over the choice of candidates for political office
Examples of kingmaker in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Casting the sweet-faced and unflappably mellow Dano — Eli Sunday his Vadim Baranov is not — as Putin’s kingmaker also assures that Assayas isn’t keen on high drama, with conversations in conference rooms plotting totalitarian takeover rarely rising above library-voice level.
—
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 31 Aug. 2025
Comedy kingmaker Lorne Michaels is weighing in on the tumult in late-night television.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 23 Aug. 2025
James Dobson, once the most powerful tentpole of the Religious Right and a kingmaker for politicians professing faith, died Thursday, his family announced.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 21 Aug. 2025
Cardinale’s rise to Hollywood kingmaker marks a watershed moment for the entertainment industry.
—Ashley Lutz, Fortune, 9 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kingmaker
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 31 Aug. 2025
Comedy kingmaker Lorne Michaels is weighing in on the tumult in late-night television.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 23 Aug. 2025
James Dobson, once the most powerful tentpole of the Religious Right and a kingmaker for politicians professing faith, died Thursday, his family announced.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 21 Aug. 2025
Cardinale’s rise to Hollywood kingmaker marks a watershed moment for the entertainment industry.
—Ashley Lutz, Fortune, 9 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kingmaker
Cite this Entry
“Kingmaker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kingmaker. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share