honcho

noun

ˈhän-(ˌ)chō How to pronounce honcho (audio)
Definition of honchonext
1
as in heavyweight
one of high position or importance within a group the office was all abuzz because some honchos from corporate headquarters were coming for a visit

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in boss
the person (as an employer or supervisor) who tells people and especially workers what to do he's definitely the head honcho in that company

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 honcho The fate of Runway now in the hands of Elias Clark scion Jay and his team of cutthroat management consultants, Andy, seeking a lifeline, reaches out to Dior honcho Emily and her bizarre tech billionaire biohacker boyfriend Benji Barnes (Justin Theroux). — Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 30 Apr. 2026 But now that Donovan has taken himself out of the picture, what will the next Bulls honcho be looking for in a new coach? — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026 Marvel Studios honcho Kevin Feige took the stage in Las Vegas on Thursday to close out Disney‘s presentation. — Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026 Beyond head-honcho Evilgiane’s handful of major placements, SG keep themselves busy by engaging with whoever's bubbling under the surface. — Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 6 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for honcho
Recent Examples of Synonyms for honcho
  1. heavyweight
  2. boss
  3. big
  4. leader
  5. heavy
  6. foreman
  7. magnate
  8. chief
Noun
  • Rob Lowe had plenty of competition for blockbuster roles in the 1980s and ’90s – and one Hollywood heavyweight repeatedly stood in his way.
    — Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2026
  • The expectation for this season was that Michigan would be competitive against every team on the schedule, including Big Ten heavyweights Ohio State, Oregon and Indiana.
    — Austin Meek, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of heavyweight
Noun
  • More than a decade ago, the two researchers were introduced by their mutual boss, the chancellor at UCSF, who encouraged them to collaborate.
    — Pien Huang, NPR, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Starring Parton, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, the movie portrays three working women who rebel against their sexist boss.
    — Melina Khan, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of boss
Noun
  • Unfortunately, the less said about China’s guards, the better; their main job is to get the ball past half court without turning it over and then feed the bigs.
    — Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • That is a remarkable incentive, if not catnip, to send Condon to the bigs.
    — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of big
Noun
  • New Hampshire’s premier Senate race is on after party leaders secured their top choices in what’s shaping up to be one of the tightest contests in the entire country come November.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Singapore pays its political leaders high salaries to attract talent and deter graft, but the issue is thorny in the city-state, where the median wage worker made S$5,775 ($736) a month in 2025.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of leader
Noun
  • Mehring’s characters include petty criminals, unscrupulous lawyers, Galician Jews, Freikorps heavies, local and international businessmen, Prussian generals, and the everyday citizens inhabiting the streets of Berlin’s old and rather dingy center.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026
  • At the same time, Benz noted, retirees don't want a mainly stock-heavy portfolio that would mean your only option would be to sell stocks during a longer downturn.
    — Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of heavy
Noun
  • The Nepal Electricity Authority named the two men who were rescued alive as 30-year-old Sanjay Sah, a mechanical foreman from Saptari district in eastern Nepal, and Kabir Maharjan, 45, a mechanical supervisor from Kathmandu.
    — Bhadra Sharma, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Officials identified them as a mechanical foreman and a mechanical supervisor at the Trishuli 3A plant.
    — James Cirrone, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of foreman
Noun
  • This Gulf Coast city is Florida’s arts capital, with a cultural compound that grew from the fortunes of circus magnate John Ringling.
    — Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The promise of Kroenke, a multi-sport magnate who has won championships in the NBA, NHL and NFL, provided some of the optimism expressed this week.
    — Andy McCullough, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of magnate
Noun
  • Hawkins, a perimeter shooter and slasher out of UConn, was selected 14th in 2023, two years before a regime change that saw Joe Dumars replace David Griffin as basketball operations chief.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2026
  • When the deal was finalized, the new owners overhauled the management team, bringing in John Hutchison, the former chief executive officer of Bonobos, as the new chief to succeed Trevor Shimpfky.
    — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of chief

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Cite this Entry

“Honcho.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/honcho. Accessed 11 Sep. 2026.

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