bigwig

noun

ˈbig-ˌwig How to pronounce bigwig (audio)
Definition of bigwignext
as in heavyweight
one of high position or importance within a group interviewed by several bigwigs on the hospital's staff

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 bigwig However, after impressing bigwigs at Universal with his short film Amblin’, Spielberg put his education aside in 1968 to pursue filmmaking. — Andrea Wurzburger, PEOPLE, 18 July 2026 Several members of the cast and writer’s room, including Dippold and co-star Jeff Hiller, got their start with the Upright Citizens Brigade, an improvisational sketch-comedy group founded by comedy bigwigs like Amy Poehler and Adam McKay. — Josef Adalian, Vulture, 29 June 2026 Naturally, Bravo’s bigwigs and Cohen were pretty peeved to see gossip sites scooping them on their own reunion. — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 10 June 2026 Immediately afterwards, international dance music bigwigs such as Carl Cox, Martin Garrix, David Guetta, and Peggy Gou took over the sound system to get everyone on the dance floor. — Stefania Conrieri, Vanity Fair, 6 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for bigwig
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bigwig
  1. heavyweight
  2. big
  3. heavy
  4. magnate
  5. tycoon
Noun
  • Once upon a time, Georgia-Florida was an annual heavyweight fight, two proud programs trading punches and championships while their fans traded insults and cocktails in Jacksonville.
    — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Oct. 2026
  • Since taking office, Mamdani has named Diya Vij, an arts-organizations veteran, to lead the Department of Cultural Affairs, and assembled a slew of heavyweights to serve on his Committee on Arts and Culture.
    — Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of heavyweight
Noun
  • Shooters have thrived in Campbell’s spacing due to how much attention point guards and bigs generate off the pick-and-roll.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Go rebound the basketball, go protect the rim, be a big big for us.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of big
Noun
  • Of course, the Nasdaq-100 or a similar tech-heavy index, isn’t guaranteed to deliver 21% returns each year for a decade going forward.
    — Sarah Cannon, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • These days her Halloween costumes are often elaborate and prosthetic-heavy.
    — Marah Eakin, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of heavy
Noun
  • The jewels date back to Sofía’s 1962 wedding to the future King Juan Carlos, with the wider suite gifted by Greek shipping magnate Stavros Niarchos and the matching earrings reportedly presented by her mother, Queen Frederica of Greece.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The tour takes guests through the Gilded Age mansion, built in 1904 for furniture magnate Amos Rhodes.
    — Madeline Montgomery, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of magnate
Noun
  • Over those decades, tycoons have leveraged their fortunes to shape the state with their railroads, mines, newspapers, oil businesses and ranching and agriculture.
    — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Carrie Coon and Morgan Spector will be back as the ambitious social climber Bertha Russell and her railroad tycoon husband George Russell, though their relationship hit some rough waters in Season 3.
    — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of tycoon

Browse Nearby Words

big wheels
bigwig
bigwigs
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bigwig.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bigwig. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.

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