as in heavyweight
one of high position or importance within a group
for a high-profile case like this, the law firm uses only its big guns
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of big gun
Most players expect to be handed a big gun, or some other lethal power, and get sent out on missions to knock around bad guys and cause some property destruction.
—
The New York Times, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025
Can Ukraine keep its big guns firing as Trump aligns the United States with Russia and halts further U.S. aid to Ukraine?
—David Axe, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
Nintendo's top talent has presumably worked on Switch 2 software for years, so now is the time for big guns like Donkey Kong, Mario, and Zelda.
—Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 1 Apr. 2025
The Blueshirts’ big guns of Panarin and Fox worked to engineer Zibanejad’s one-timer from the left circle, 2:13 after Carlsson’s goal.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for big gun
The New York Times, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025
Can Ukraine keep its big guns firing as Trump aligns the United States with Russia and halts further U.S. aid to Ukraine?
—David Axe, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
Nintendo's top talent has presumably worked on Switch 2 software for years, so now is the time for big guns like Donkey Kong, Mario, and Zelda.
—Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 1 Apr. 2025
The Blueshirts’ big guns of Panarin and Fox worked to engineer Zibanejad’s one-timer from the left circle, 2:13 after Carlsson’s goal.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for big gun
Recent Examples of Synonyms for big gun
Noun
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As noted, newspapers and magazines have been conceived as a package—a mix of the light and the heavy.—
John Werner,
Forbes.com,
3 July 2025
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Others are the heaviest of the heavy: a college student rendered brain-dead by a fentanyl overdose, a little girl who fatally drowns while saving her sister who fell into their swimming pool.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
17 May 2025
Noun
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With all three now (seemingly) gone, the C’s are left with a collection of bigs that might be the least impressive in the NBA: Neemias Queta, newcomer Luka Garza, Xavier Tillman and second-round draft pick Amari Williams.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
15 July 2025
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The goal is to get Ethan’s bat to the bigs, ready to create middle-of-the-order impact.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
14 July 2025
Noun
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Two of the children, ages 9 and 11, were transported down the mountain in a big wheel basket.—
Hannah Dreyfus,
AZCentral.com,
2 July 2025
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There was a man riding a toddler’s big wheel with a 40-ounce malt liquor bottle in one hand, and a woman wearing just a torn T-shirt was cursing up a storm.—
Barnini Chakraborty,
The Washington Examiner,
26 May 2025
Noun
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That big boy came straight up out of the water until his tail was a foot above its surface, then smacked back.—
Arthur Grahame,
Outdoor Life,
4 June 2025
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This whole situation in the industry is like a big boy's club...—
Mekishana Pierre Published,
EW.com,
20 May 2025
Noun
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This David-and-Goliath battle pitted them against heavy hitters: the Dade County Port Authority, the Federal Aviation Administration, the state of Florida, the air transport industry and eager chambers of commerce.—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
13 July 2025
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But where Altman is a leading character in the story, another tech heavy hitter makes an impression, too, albeit in what appears to be more of a cameo.—
Rance Collins,
IndieWire,
11 July 2025
Noun
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But a big cheese board affords the chance for people to try something new.—
Betty Hallock,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Dec. 2024
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But a big cheese board affords the chance for people to try something new.—
Betty Hallock,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Instead, what ensued was an eerie redux of another Wimbledon lion’s last stand.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
11 July 2025
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So far, 13 lions have been captured and five individuals arrested in connection with violating wildlife regulations.—
Alysha Bibi,
CNN Money,
7 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Big gun.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/big%20gun. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
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