as in bigs
one of high position or importance within a group
when she became the network's White House correspondent, she knew that she was now playing with the big boys
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Recent Examples of big boys
But taking on one of Wall Street’s big boys, and then getting squashed for it, ranks right up there.
—
Liz Peek, Washington Post, 4 May 2026
Then the Bruins big boys decided to make a statement after that.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
Will the Niners spend like big boys and sign Hendrickson, Linderbaum and JFM?
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2026
Only little boys are called big boys.
—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
One of the biggest reasons the Padres’ slugging numbers are down is that those big boys have not produced the power that was expected out of them.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Sep. 2025
Liz Peek, Washington Post, 4 May 2026
Then the Bruins big boys decided to make a statement after that.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
Will the Niners spend like big boys and sign Hendrickson, Linderbaum and JFM?
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2026
Only little boys are called big boys.
—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
One of the biggest reasons the Padres’ slugging numbers are down is that those big boys have not produced the power that was expected out of them.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for big boys
Noun
-
The Sparks are backcourt heavy, then have three bigs in Nneka Ogwumike, Cameron Brink and Dearica Hamby.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
-
But the Celtics have done a somewhat better job during the past five years of finding a combination of shooters — Sam Hauser (undrafted) and Payton Pritchard (late first round) and second-round bigs (Neemias Queta and Luka Garza).—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
Over the course of the series, Hart was joined by a roster of comedy heavyweights in evaluating comics from across the country.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
6 May 2026
-
Against that backdrop, this week's earnings slate, packed with European heavyweights, will likely be the catalyst that moves the market as Gulf worries appear to have been priced in.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
The Dark Knight’s wheels are getting a winter upgrade.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
8 May 2026
-
Instead of distributing the same braking pressure across all four wheels, the software continuously adjusts force at every corner of the vehicle.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
The Minnesota Wild’s big guns showed up in a big way Saturday night, and the Avs looked wobbly for the first time in this tournament in a 5-1 loss in Game 3 at Grand Casino Arena.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
10 May 2026
-
Against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup, Wrexham twice raced into a two-goal lead only for the half-time of introduction of the Premier League’s ‘big guns’ to underline how far the Welsh club still has to go if their owners’ top flight ambitions are to be realised.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
However, on season 2 of Twin Peaks, the actress played Miss Jones, the right-hand woman for one of the series' heavies, Thomas Eckhardt (the late David Warner).—
Drew Mackie,
PEOPLE,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Specifically, Alioto sought to reimagine the magazine as a many-pronged vehicle for promising tastes—like those of regular contributors and critical heavies, Grace Byron and Greta Rainbow.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Breakouts are getting a full-on rebrand thanks to these Gen Z heavy hitters.—
Brittany Talarico,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Set along the cold, deep waters of Islay’s village of Port Ellen, the hotel is well placed for long blustery walks along the Three Distilleries Pathway, which takes you to the island’s heavy hitters of Laphroaig, Lagavulin, and, of course, Ardbeg.—
Travel + Leisure Editors,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
While McCollum made the big shots late, Kuminga’s role was massive.—
Darnell Mayberry,
New York Times,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Guys stepping up in big moments, making big shots.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The car's quirky appearance is enhanced by a sporty body kit and big wheels that are pushed to the farthest edges.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
27 Apr. 2026
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Big boys.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/big%20boys. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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