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
The legislation also ignores the reality that as the kingpins in the SEC and Big Ten have gotten really rich, the other leagues have seen healthy returns and profits as well at roughly the same pace.
—
Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 5 Mar. 2026
In Culiacan, in neighboring Sinaloa state, home to a cartel of the same name, there is a cemetery known for its luxury crypts and mausoleums for one-time kingpins like Ignacio Coronel — an old associate of El Mencho — and Arturo Beltrán Leyva.
—CNN Money, 3 Mar. 2026
In Culiacan, in neighboring Sinaloa state, home to a cartel of the same name, there is a cemetery known for its luxury crypts and mausoleums for one-time kingpins like Ignacio Coronel - an old associate of El Mencho - and Arturo Beltrán Leyva.
—CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
In Culiacan, in neighboring Sinaloa state, home to a cartel of the same name, there is a cemetery known for its luxury crypts and mausoleums for one-time kingpins like Ignacio Coronel — an old associate of El Mencho — and Arturo Beltrán Leyva.
—ABC News, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for kingpin
Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 5 Mar. 2026
In Culiacan, in neighboring Sinaloa state, home to a cartel of the same name, there is a cemetery known for its luxury crypts and mausoleums for one-time kingpins like Ignacio Coronel — an old associate of El Mencho — and Arturo Beltrán Leyva.
—CNN Money, 3 Mar. 2026
In Culiacan, in neighboring Sinaloa state, home to a cartel of the same name, there is a cemetery known for its luxury crypts and mausoleums for one-time kingpins like Ignacio Coronel - an old associate of El Mencho - and Arturo Beltrán Leyva.
—CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
In Culiacan, in neighboring Sinaloa state, home to a cartel of the same name, there is a cemetery known for its luxury crypts and mausoleums for one-time kingpins like Ignacio Coronel — an old associate of El Mencho — and Arturo Beltrán Leyva.
—ABC News, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for kingpin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kingpin
Noun
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Although made with recycled Hanna-Barbera cartoons and tiny budgets, Adult Swim shows competed with late-night heavyweights David Letterman and Jay Leno among 18-to-34-year-old men and won over sponsors.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2026
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Other music heavyweights joining Charli XCX and Lorde as headliners include Tate McRae, Blackpink star Jennie and Grammy-winning songstress Olivia Dean.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The leader of Denmark's Social Democrats, Mette Frederiksen, is pictured on the street at Nytorv in Aalborg, on March 24, 2026 during the parliamentary election in Denmark.—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
25 Mar. 2026
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Union leaders and federal officials say empty gas tanks, childcare expenses and the threat of eviction keep more screeners from showing up the longer the shutdown continues.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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How the Script Walks a Tonal Tightrope Radcliffe credited playwrights Macmillan and Donahoe with building a structure that lets the performer pivot rapidly between the heavy and the silly.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
13 Mar. 2026
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Unlike, say, Mexican or South Asian cuisines, American food is not particularly bean-heavy.—
Yasmin Tayag,
The Atlantic,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Fremantle bosses will no longer take the stage at Series Mania.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
24 Mar. 2026
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After nearly four months with Jesh Humphrey as interim AD, Albin has a new boss, with Kevin White joining the fold.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Thomas Bryant, whom Atkinson lavishly praised as a backup big who always tries on defense, logged only 13 minutes.—
Joe Vardon,
New York Times,
25 Mar. 2026
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But there wasn’t much support from the Heat’s young bigs.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Courtney will next be seen in Paramount +’s The Dutton Ranch, a spin-off of Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone, as the imposing and unpredictable ranch foreman, Rob-Will.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
17 Mar. 2026
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The ranch also has a three-bedroom bass fishing cabin and a three-bedroom ranch foreman’s house.—
Neal Franklin,
Dallas Morning News,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The dining magnate is opening up a multi-level dining spot in Midtown called 550 Madison, with the folks at Rockwell Group helming the design.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
16 Mar. 2026
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IndyCar’s owner, longtime racing magnate Roger Penske, sold a one-third stake in the series to the Fox Corporation in July 2025, thus ensuring its races will be carried on a major network for the foreseeable future.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Property masters are now eligible for active voting or associate membership within the Television Academy.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
24 Mar. 2026
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George graduated from Oregon State University with a bachelor’s degree in English and philosophy and a master’s degree in education with a focus on bilingual instruction.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kingpin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kingpin. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.
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