leverage

the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly lacking much of the leverage it once had, the union is now being forced to make some humiliating concessions Synonyms authority, clout, credit, heft, in, juice [slang], influence, pull, sway, weightRelated Words counterinfluence; command, dominance, dominion, mastery, predominance, reign, scepter, sovereignty (also sovranty), supremacy; consequence, eminence, importance, moment; impact, impress, impression, imprint, markNear Antonyms helplessness, impotence, impotency, powerlessness, weakness

to take unfair advantage of a reality show contestant who's trying to leverage her 15 minutes of fame Synonyms abuse, capitalize (on), cash in (on), impose (on or upon), exploit, milk, pimp, play (on or upon), use, workRelated Words jerk around, manipulate, mistreat; bleed, cheat, fleece, overcharge, skin, soak, stick; commercialize, commodify