as in heavyweight
one of high position or importance within a group
thinks he's a big cheese just because he's got a business card
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of big cheese
But a big cheese board affords the chance for people to try something new.
—
Betty Hallock, Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec. 2024
Simply Cheetos White Cheddar Puffs These light-colored curls have big cheese flavor, a satisfying crunch and a tart kick that is dangerously delicious.
—Jolene Thym, The Mercury News, 4 June 2024
So for decades only accredited scholars, the occasional journalist and big cheeses got to see inside.
—Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2023
Following a voting process, this international cut of designers aged under 40 will be whittled down to a final few before the winners are selected by a panel of the conglomerate’s key designers and c-suite big cheeses some time in the summer.
—Luke Leitch, Vogue, 2 Mar. 2023
All is fair in love and big cheese.
—Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 2 Feb. 2023
Bob Iger is back as the House of Mouse’s big cheese.
—Jacob Carpenter, Fortune, 21 Nov. 2022
Una Pizza Napoletana is truly the big cheese: Anthony Mangieri’s Lower East Side pizza joint was just named the best pizzeria in the United States by the 50 Top Pizza organization.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 16 June 2022
Betty Hallock, Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec. 2024
Simply Cheetos White Cheddar Puffs These light-colored curls have big cheese flavor, a satisfying crunch and a tart kick that is dangerously delicious.
—Jolene Thym, The Mercury News, 4 June 2024
So for decades only accredited scholars, the occasional journalist and big cheeses got to see inside.
—Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2023
Following a voting process, this international cut of designers aged under 40 will be whittled down to a final few before the winners are selected by a panel of the conglomerate’s key designers and c-suite big cheeses some time in the summer.
—Luke Leitch, Vogue, 2 Mar. 2023
All is fair in love and big cheese.
—Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 2 Feb. 2023
Bob Iger is back as the House of Mouse’s big cheese.
—Jacob Carpenter, Fortune, 21 Nov. 2022
Una Pizza Napoletana is truly the big cheese: Anthony Mangieri’s Lower East Side pizza joint was just named the best pizzeria in the United States by the 50 Top Pizza organization.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 16 June 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for big cheese
Noun
-
Beckham responded with dignified simplicity placing herself in the public lens alongside industry heavyweights like Anna Wintour.—
Gemma Allen,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
-
The cohort is also backed by industry heavyweights; last year’s fashion allies included Lululemon and Saks Global while program partners included HSBC and SAP.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The Paramount executive also became president of the American Motion Picture Association (precursor to the MPA) in 1925, beating out the likes of Marcus Loew, Lasky, William Fox, Hays, Sam Rothafel, Sam Katz, Carl Laemmle, Joseph Schenck, and other Hollywood heavies.—
Chris Yogerst,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Jan. 2026
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The Dark Ages gave us an extremely metal prequel that — while a bit too lore and cutscene-heavy — presented more surprising tricks and gameplay refreshes to keep the long-running FPS series alive and kicking butt.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
26 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Simmons had a heroic night with eight points and eight rebounds, playing much of it as an undersized 5-man with Magoon Gwath injured and the other bigs in foul trouble.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Jan. 2026
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Starting and closing with both bigs presents a grueling workload for the two centers.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The comedy big guns come out to pay their respects to the groundbreaking genius whose comedy is still radical — Ben Stiller, Jerry Seinfeld, Adam Sandler, Dave Chappelle, Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Kimmel and Sarah Silverman are just a few.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
8 Jan. 2026
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Sunday’s iteration – David Pastrnak-Pavel Zacha-Casey Mittelstadt – finished minus-2 and were outplayed by the Sens’ big guns.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
22 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Only little boys are called big boys.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
15 Jan. 2026
-
There are big boys throwing their weight around, and there are wild skinnies with flying arms and spinning back-kicks, chopping out their emergency version of personal space.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
16 Dec. 2025
Noun
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The cars that Geely showcased at CES, in Las Vegas, were large SUVs with big wheels, opulent interiors, and three rows of seats—not unlike a Ford Explorer.—
Patrick George,
The Atlantic,
23 Jan. 2026
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Anyone who has flown over or driven by farms in arid states – as close to Ohio as Indiana – has seen the crop circles and the big sprinkler pipes that move on big wheels.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
22 Nov. 2025
Noun
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But chief baseball officer Craig Breslow is a former big leaguer and a Yale graduate.—
Dan Freedman,
Forbes.com,
17 Jan. 2026
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The club swung a big trade with the Rays to bring in Shane Baz, a former top prospect who finally put together his first full healthy season as a big leaguer.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
4 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Cohen is a star baseball player for Windward and Fullmer plays football for Harvard-Westlake and is the son of former major leaguer Brad Fullmer, one of the best players ever out of Montclair Prep.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Jan. 2026
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Former Yankees pitcher and the oldest living major leaguer Art Schallock died at age 100 on March 6.—
Brendan Le,
PEOPLE,
5 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Big cheese.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/big%20cheese. Accessed 27 Jan. 2026.
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