as in heavyweights
one of high position or importance within a group
interviewed by several bigwigs on the hospital's staff
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 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
-
The result dashed hopes of a team touted as dark horses who could make a long run in the tournament by beating traditional soccer heavyweights such as Brazil.
-
His World's Best Bourbon title actually came at the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, beating out Kentucky's heavyweights.
Noun
-
For the past few weeks, the Valkyries’ first-ever All-Star has been anchoring Golden State’s defense in critical moments, guarding opposing bigs and sacrificing offensive opportunities for the sake of scheme.
-
So Bauer heads back to Mexico City, continuing a journey that has taken him everywhere except the bigs.
Noun
-
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.
-
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).
Noun
-
Set in the eponymous Texas metropolis, Dallas followed the Ewings, a powerful family of oil tycoons and ranch owners whose feuds and foibles made for wildly entertaining primetime viewing.
-
Three of Paxton’s billionaire backers were Texas-native tycoons with a history of funding right-wing candidates in the state, one of whom died after his donation.
Noun
-
The verdict cleared a legal cloud hanging over OpenAI's restructuring right as both magnates were steering their companies toward the public market.
-
Newspapers fell into the hands of magnates who advanced their own interests.
Cite this Entry
“Bigwigs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bigwigs. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
