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big gun

noun

Definition of big gunnext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of big gun Related Stories Chile, as the guest country of honor, will be sending its big guns with Pablo Larrain, Sebastián Lelio and Maite Alberdi leading a contingent. — Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 17 Apr. 2026 Anthopoulos wants a big gun Obviously, the Braves are shopping to augment their starting rotation. — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 18 Feb. 2026 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 There also aren't too many catchers who can put up above-average offensive stats these days, so adding Jeffers into the deal means the Yankees should be prepared to part ways with at least one of their big guns in the pitching pipeline, namely Carlos Lagrange or Elmer Rodríguez. — Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for big gun
Recent Examples of Synonyms for big gun
  1. heavyweight
  2. heavy
  3. big
  4. big wheel
  5. big boy
  6. big leaguer
  7. major leaguer
  8. heavy hitter
Noun
  • His title defense begins Wednesday against Bear 164, Bucky, one of the river's emerging heavyweights.
    — Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Referee Frank Trigg immediately stopped the fight, giving Sharaf his first UFC victory and a finish tied for the third-fastest knockout in UFC heavyweight history.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of heavyweight
Noun
  • Trapped together in the heavy, stifling isolation of the summer heat, the siblings’ bond begins to shift into something unsettling and difficult to define.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Mehring’s characters include petty criminals, unscrupulous lawyers, Galician Jews, Freikorps heavies, local and international businessmen, Prussian generals, and the everyday citizens inhabiting the streets of Berlin’s old and rather dingy center.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of heavy
Noun
  • Unfortunately, the less said about China’s guards, the better; their main job is to get the ball past half court without turning it over and then feed the bigs.
    — Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • That is a remarkable incentive, if not catnip, to send Condon to the bigs.
    — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of big
Noun
  • For all of its strengths, my one wish for the Weber Kettle is better wheel nuts holding the big wheels in place.
    — Matthew Korfhage, Wired News, 17 May 2026
  • Denali versions aim for gloss, chrome, big wheels and illuminated badging, while the AT4 gets the tougher costume - 35-inch allou-terrain tires, red recovery hooks, extra ground clearance and a more trail-minded stance flavor.
    — Josh Max, Forbes.com, 6 May 2026
Definition of big wheel
Noun
  • These are the 30-homer big boys, the men who hit in the top four spots of most teams’ lineups.
    — Jayson Stark, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of big boy
Noun
  • Jones has also done two unexpected things — one good and one bad — since becoming a big leaguer.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The first-year big leaguer had 31 homers and 108 RBIs and is the odds-on favorite for National League Rookie of the Year.
    — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of big leaguer
Noun
  • The last major leaguer to hit a game-tying or go-ahead homer in the seventh or later, after at least 12 pitches, was the Texas Rangers’ Ezequiel Duran, on June 27, 2023.
    — Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 30 Aug. 2026
  • With six strikeouts over 4 2/3 scoreless innings, Rasmus — the 12-year-old daughter of former major leaguer Cory Rasmus — is up to 14 for the tournament, tying Mo’ne Davis (Philadelphia, 2014) for the most strikeouts by a girl in series history.
    — Johnny Flores Jr, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of major leaguer
Noun
  • As the newest heavy hitter in orbital observatories continues the journey to its final destination, NASA has begun the process of switching the spacecraft on.
    — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The cast features all manner of comedic heavy hitters, including Anna Kendrick (who’s been lying rather low since Another Simple Favor), Kate Berlant, Issa Rae, and…Sharon Stone.
    — John Ross, Vanity Fair, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of heavy hitter

Browse Nearby Words

biggish
big gun
big guns
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Cite this Entry

“Big gun.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/big%20gun. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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