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big shot

noun

ˈbig-ˌshät How to pronounce big shot (audio)
Definition of big shotnext
as in heavyweight
one of high position or importance within a group a meeting at which all of the big shots in the company were present

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for big shot
  1. heavyweight
  2. heavy
  3. big
  4. big gun
  5. big wheel
  6. big boy
  7. heavy hitter
  8. big leaguer
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
  • After England have raised a glass comes a three-match one-day international series this week when India will welcome back big guns including captain Shubman Gill and legends Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
    — Paul Newman, New York Times, 12 July 2026
  • Clinging to a one-run lead and with the top of the order due up, Tracy went to one of his big guns, calling in Whitlock to put out the fire.
    — Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 24 May 2026
Definition of big gun
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
  • 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
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
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.

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big screen
big shot
big shots
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Cite this Entry

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

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