heavy hitters

noun

plural of heavy hitter
as in heavyweights
one of high position or importance within a group many of the heavy hitters in the wine industry were boozing and schmoozing at the expo

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 heavy hitters There’s also the heavy hitters cookies & cream, 2 run chocolate crunch and the victory chocolate chip — a more classic version of the cookie compared to the sluggers sourdough. — Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 7 Nov. 2026 As a result, the Republicans lacked top tier, heavy hitters who could bring out the vote not only for themselves but also for Fazio, officials said. — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 3 Nov. 2026 Escape The Great Pumpkin of SoCal mega EDM events this season, this Insomniac institution has all the usual heavy hitters (Zedd, Nina Kraviz, Disco Lines, Cloonee). — Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026 Guests featured on the show include major horror heavy hitters like Mike Flanagan, Chad Villela, Brea Grant and more. — CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026 Returning heavy hitters include Gagosian, Lisson Gallery, Perrotin, White Cube, and David Zwirner. — News Desk, Artforum, 27 Oct. 2026 Mayer joins a roster of heavy hitters at Mercury, which includes Noah Kahan and Morgan Wallen. — Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2026 Despite the heavy hitters, all this comes with major challenges and caveats. — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2026 But the original Best R&B Album category still carries its own sense of cachet, and this year’s field should include some awfully heavy hitters. — Meagan Jordan, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heavy hitters
  1. heavyweights
  2. bigs
  3. heavies
  4. big guns
  5. wheels
  6. big shots
  7. big boys
  8. big wheels
Noun
  • The other five finance heavyweights in the group — BlackRock, Brookfield, Blackstone, KKR, and Apollo — either didn’t provide a comment when asked about Nvidia’s troubles, or pointed to Solomon’s remarks.
    — Ellen DiMauro, semafor.com, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Di Girolamo stars alongside Hollywood heavyweights John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell, Steve Buscemi and Parker Posey, and is directed by Oscar winner Martin McDonagh.
    — Leigh Nordstrom, Footwear News, 9 Nov. 2026
Definition of heavyweights
Noun
  • The efforts of Onyeka Okongwu and Lu Dort helped minimize any damage from Wizards bigs Alex Sarr and Deandre Ayton.
    — Lauren Williams, AJC.com, 7 Nov. 2026
  • The bigs come out a lot to pressure the ball in ball screen coverage.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of bigs
Noun
  • This year, recommenders include cultural heavies like Susan Orlean, Tony Tulathimutte, Jia Tolentino, Vincenzo Latronico, Sarah Thankam Matthews, and Tavi Gevinson.
    — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The album also features cameos by heavies from Gojira, Lamb of God, Queens of the Stone Age, and Clutch.
    — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of heavies
Noun
  • However, with each Champions League victory crucial to progressing toward the next round, neither would want to rest their big guns, either.
    — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 13 Oct. 2026
  • 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
Definition of big guns
Noun
  • From January through the end of August this year — the most recent month for which Federal Aviation Administration data is available — planes landing at O’Hare averaged 20 minutes to taxi to their gates once their wheels hit the ground.
    — Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 8 Nov. 2026
  • So while the tank was resting on the road wheels that help keep the tracks in tension, trying to tow it would likely just cause the massive vehicle to dig in.
    — Stephen Edelstein, The Drive, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of wheels
Noun
  • The synergy between the two players stood out as Edmonds connected with Robinson for a number of big shots.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Nov. 2026
  • The symphony orchestra takes its name from the Greek symphonía, meaning sounding in agreement, and orkhēstra which implies a public stage for dance or, in ancient Rome, where senators and other big shots sat.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of big shots
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 boys
Noun
  • The car's quirky appearance is enhanced by a sporty body kit and big wheels that are pushed to the farthest edges.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 27 Apr. 2026
  • The cars that Geely showcased at CES, in Las Vegas, were large SUVs with big wheels, opulent interiors, and three rows of seats—not unlike a Ford Explorer.
    — Patrick George, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2026
Definition of big wheels

Browse Nearby Words

heavy hitter
heavy hitters
heavy lifting
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Heavy hitters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heavy%20hitters. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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