as in heavyweights
one of high position or importance within a group
interviewed by several bigwigs on the hospital's staff
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Recent Examples of bigwigs
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
Ever since 1948, when the resident artist Victor Vasarely put Gordes on the map, the town has welcomed political bigwigs, French presidents, artists, and musicians.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 June 2026
According to IndieWire, Parsons spent his senior year of high school fielding offers from Hollywood bigwigs for a feature-length Backrooms while applying to colleges.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 1 June 2026
The joke around the proverbial water cooler goes that this is apparently the week all the bigwigs in lit world got together and decided to embrace their own destruction.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
Suspicions of possible ties to drug traffickers have long hung over Rocha Mayo, who was born in Badiraguato, the same mountainous municipality in Sinaloa that is the hometown of El Chapo and other cartel bigwigs.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
Locking the doors has been the point, as Beacon Hill bigwigs have dodged every jab DiZoglio could throw.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 22 Apr. 2026
Unfortunately, too many other bigwigs of broadcasting fail to show similar even-handedness.
—Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
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
Ever since 1948, when the resident artist Victor Vasarely put Gordes on the map, the town has welcomed political bigwigs, French presidents, artists, and musicians.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 June 2026
According to IndieWire, Parsons spent his senior year of high school fielding offers from Hollywood bigwigs for a feature-length Backrooms while applying to colleges.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 1 June 2026
The joke around the proverbial water cooler goes that this is apparently the week all the bigwigs in lit world got together and decided to embrace their own destruction.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
Suspicions of possible ties to drug traffickers have long hung over Rocha Mayo, who was born in Badiraguato, the same mountainous municipality in Sinaloa that is the hometown of El Chapo and other cartel bigwigs.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
Locking the doors has been the point, as Beacon Hill bigwigs have dodged every jab DiZoglio could throw.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 22 Apr. 2026
Unfortunately, too many other bigwigs of broadcasting fail to show similar even-handedness.
—Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bigwigs
Noun
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Inside the Alif Institute, fans packed into the Arab cultural center in Embry Hills with the fervor of a stadium’s fan section as two World Cup heavyweights, Morocco and Brazil, faced off to a 1-1 draw.—
Amna Subhan,
AJC.com,
19 June 2026
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Also on Wednesday, Harry Kane of England and Croatia's Luka Modrić square off in a Group L match of heavyweights.—
Russell Lewis,
NPR,
17 June 2026
Noun
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The Miami Herald’s three-part NBA Draft preview concludes with a look at the bigs who are expected to be selected in the Heat’s range in the first round (if Miami keeps the pick).—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
21 June 2026
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Almost all the point guards are likely gone at that point, but there are some intriguing bigs on the market in the early 20s.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 June 2026
Noun
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In any year, in any culture, there are no antagonists (save for Nazis) better suited as action cinema heavies; rooting against child trafficking lowlifes is moral, easy, and best of all, a completely guiltless pleasure.—
Andy Crump,
IndieWire,
15 June 2026
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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
Noun
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Alongside the police raids, the downfall of these tycoons put pressure on scam companies, which have relocated from Cambodia in recent months, researchers and former scam workers said.—
Shibani Mahtani,
NPR,
21 June 2026
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Greek shipping tycoons, Morley said, may be intrigued by the glory of owning Onassis’s yacht; Middle Eastern oil magnates could have the means to buy a pricey piece of history.—
Michael Ballaban,
CNN Money,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
Newspapers fell into the hands of magnates who advanced their own interests.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
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The verdict comes at a critical time for Altman and Musk, as the two tech magnates push their respective companies toward the public markets in what are expected to be record offerings.—
Jeffrey Kopp,Lora Kolodny,
CNBC,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bigwigs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bigwigs. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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