1
as in heavyweight
one of high position or importance within a group
a police sting that nabbed several kingpins of the city's drug trade
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in leader
the person (as an employer or supervisor) who tells people and especially workers what to do
finally nailed the mob kingpin who had been controlling all the gambling rackets in the city
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of kingpin
Fentanyl kingpin pleads guilty to flooding the United States with killer drug.
—
Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025
Described as cocaine kingpins and convicted of a non-violent drug conspiracy, the brothers had been in prison since the mid-1990s, according to NBC DFW.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Aug. 2025
Not everyone can relate to being part of a drug kingpin family.
—Giana Levy, Variety, 16 Aug. 2025
The same goes for Georgia and Ohio State and several other current kingpins.
—Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kingpin
Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025
Described as cocaine kingpins and convicted of a non-violent drug conspiracy, the brothers had been in prison since the mid-1990s, according to NBC DFW.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Aug. 2025
Not everyone can relate to being part of a drug kingpin family.
—Giana Levy, Variety, 16 Aug. 2025
The same goes for Georgia and Ohio State and several other current kingpins.
—Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kingpin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kingpin
Noun
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While the decision was ridiculous, neither of them is going to strike fear in the hearts of the top heavyweights.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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Fans also witnessed a matchup between South Shore teams that needed triple overtime to be decided, as Patriot League heavyweight Duxbury emerged victorious on the road against a very talented Abington squad (a 52-44 final).—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Commonly, business leaders, tech journalists, and anyone with a yen to follow the top changes in AI will take a look at what top consultants have to say.—
John Werner,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
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Arkansas ranks high as a national leader in the school choice movement, the head of the state's Educational Freedom Accounts program said Thursday, citing standings from several think tanks and advocacy groups.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Previously home to a long-standing restaurant called Andiamo, the space had a dark, wood-heavy aesthetic.—
Amanda Lauren,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
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That something special largely comes from a heavy, spitting topspin forehand that dovetails with an aggressive backhand slice — the result of Tjen growing up idolizing three-time Grand Slam champion Ash Barty.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
27 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Recently, her boss asked the group who would be able to stay late to finish up a few reports.—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
14 Sep. 2025
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While Kimmie worked as a dancer at the club, Jules (who serves as both Bellaire’s head of security and the boss at Norman’s secret strip club) forced her to be Roy's prostitute.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
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She’s tasked with slowing down top opposing bigs, and her versatility and willingness to defend some of the league’s best is key to freeing up Collier on both ends.—
Ben Pickman,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
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Making things sweeter, Stubbs was called to the bigs on the same day his brother Garrett, who has played in 192 major league games over six seasons with the Astros and Phillies, was called up to the big leagues by Philadelphia.—
John Maffei,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
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On a white-run construction site in West Africa, an edgy, tightly wound foreman anxiously awaits his bride.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
4 Sep. 2025
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Set on a white-run construction site in West Africa, the story follows an edgy foreman anxiously awaiting his bride, whose presence meets resistance from a cocksure engineer clinging to the hyper-masculine status quo.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
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His daughter, philanthropist Mitzi Perdue, widow of the late poultry magnate Frank Perdue, is among the heirs selling the 104-acre spread for $15 million, co-listed with Compass agents Sean Bakhtiari and Colby Coppage.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
16 Sep. 2025
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The American Century that publishing magnate Henry Luce famously described in 1941 has to all intents and purposes come to an end.—
John Rennie Short,
The Conversation,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Brown's former master distiller left his job at a grocery store and returned to bourbon making for a few months each year during the final chapter of Prohibition.—
Maggie Menderski,
Louisville Courier Journal,
16 Sep. 2025
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These roles typically require a master’s degree but offer starting salaries in the $50,000-$70,000 range with significant growth potential.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Kingpin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kingpin. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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