HEAVY HITTERS Synonyms: 60 Similar and Opposite Words

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

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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 Founded in London in 1993, White Cube burst onto the US scene in 2023 with its New York flagship at 1002 Madison Avenue (a stone’s throw from the headquarters of heavy hitters such as Gagosian and Acquavella). — News Desk, Artforum, 7 Aug. 2026 Other heavy hitters include New York, Washington, and Massachusetts with four each, and Virginia with three. — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 6 Aug. 2026 All of this unfolded just days before Aschenbrenner and Balwit were scheduled to marry in picturesque Carmel-by-the-Sea, surrounded by Silicon Valley heavy hitters, many of whom were also Aschenbrenner’s investors. — Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 4 Aug. 2026 Despite the heavy hitters attached, momentum has since stalled on the sci-fi project and it's sadly been shelved for the immediate future. — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 1 Aug. 2026 Orange County’s culinary heavy hitters are once again joining forces for a good cause and a great time. — Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 30 July 2026 Progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed has endorsements from the heavy hitters of progressive politics, AOC, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Ro Khanna. — ABC News, 26 July 2026 While Malone headlined the show, a few additional heavy hitters joined the pregame festivities, including Tom Cruise, who made an appearance ahead of the release of his latest movie, Digger, set for fall 2026. — Malik Davis, Rolling Stone, 19 July 2026 This year’s heavy hitters include Amazon’s founder Jeff Bezos, OpenAI’s chief executive officer Sam Altman, Reel Genius founder Victoria Grazer and Anthropic’s CEO Dario Amodei. — Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 10 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for heavy hitters

Noun

Lawrence clocked early on that Williams had the chops to hold her own against heavyweights like Harrison Ford.

— Maureen Lee Lenker, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026
There is no denying Kosmera aims to challenge hypercar heavyweights like Rimac and Koenigsegg, as well as its main domestic rival, BYD.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of heavyweights

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.

— Andy Crump, IndieWire, 15 June 2026
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

Definition of heavies

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
The Minnesota Wild’s big guns showed up in a big way Saturday night, and the Avs looked wobbly for the first time in this tournament in a 5-1 loss in Game 3 at Grand Casino Arena.

— Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 10 May 2026

Definition of big guns

Noun

Bikes for teens Teens often crave more independence on two wheels, whether for school commutes or longer weekend rides.

— ABC News, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
This example is finished in Whitest White over a red and white leather interior and rides on a set of BBS Forged Graphite wheels.

— Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of wheels

Noun

The big deals have been made, the big shots have come and gone.

— David Szondy July 23, New Atlas, 23 July 2026
Yet the mental horizons of Maucci and his associates were wider and more mobile than those of the big shots, small-time lawyers, and clerics who’d remained to vegetate in their old Lunigiana.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 July 2026

Definition of big shots

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

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heavy hitter

heavy hitters

heavy lifting

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“Heavy hitters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heavy%20hitters. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of heavy hitters

noun

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