kahuna

noun

kə-ˈhü-nə How to pronounce kahuna (audio)
Definition of kahunanext
as in heavyweight
one of high position or importance within a group a big kahuna at a Hollywood talent agency, he's got the fancy car to prove it

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 kahuna The China tariff deal—not yet done—is the big kahuna in all of this. — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2025 But EnCharge is entering a competitive field, and among the competitors is the big kahuna, Nvidia. — IEEE Spectrum, 2 June 2025 This has to be a big kahuna, among records Swift could break that go back to the very beginning of the album chart. — Chris Willman, Variety, 19 June 2024 As an inside joke, Keōua’s kahuna, whose tongue Ka’iana rips out of his mouth in front of Keōua during the hectic battle, is played by Kahoʻokahi Kanuha, Momoa’s ʻŌlelo Hawai’i coach. — Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019 See All Example Sentences for kahuna
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kahuna
  1. heavyweight
  2. big
  3. heavy
  4. king
  5. queen
  6. lion
  7. magnate
Noun
  • Tyson, a student of boxing history, surely would have appreciated a deeper discussion of the role of the Black heavyweight champion in culture.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Available in black and blue for $150, it is made from heavyweight, 100 percent cotton canvas with a light stone wash, full lining and corduroy collars and cuffs, according to FlyQuest’s product listings.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of heavyweight
Noun
  • Go rebound the basketball, go protect the rim, be a big big for us.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The belief in Green Bay is the veteran bigs will give Love more time to throw.
    — Jonathan Jones, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of big
Noun
  • These days her Halloween costumes are often elaborate and prosthetic-heavy.
    — Marah Eakin, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • That also suggests the league accepts, or at least tolerates, the flag-heavy officiating that has come to define the early months of the season.
    — Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of heavy
Noun
  • The worst of El Niño is still months away, but Southern California’s fragile coastline is already being transformed by record-setting king tides and storm surges.
    — Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC news, 17 Oct. 2026
  • After decades of neglect and subsequent disrepair, it was recently restored into a luxurious one-bedroom retreat that honors its historic roots while embracing contemporary amenities like a king bed, an en-suite bathroom, and a sleek living area.
    — Madeline Weinfield, Architectural Digest, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of king
Noun
  • Argentina’s queen of perreo-rave has become a South American it-girl, landing buzzy domestic collaborations with Dillom and Emilia Mernes, and strutting into the international spotlight with guest spots on tracks from Shy Girl and Yeri Mua.
    — Richard Villegas, Rolling Stone, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Rihanna, Beyoncé — of course the OG queens, the Patti LaBelles, the Stephanie Mills, all of them like that.
    — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of queen
Noun
  • Included are more than 40 complete outfits, the lion’s share of which were donated by her daughter Cornelia and are being preserved by SCAD Fash as part of its permanent archive.
    — Ari Stark, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Hinds’ voice returns at the end to ask as the iconic lion, Aslan (who will be voiced by Meryl Streep), is formed out of some sort of cosmic dust to roar.
    — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of lion
Noun
  • French jewelry maison Boucheron was founded in 1858 and built a legacy of adorning royals, stars and magnates in jewelry that combines precious, rare gems with equally ingenious designs.
    — Tanya Dukes, Robb Report, 12 Oct. 2026
  • His short stint on social media wasn't the only personal detail the AI magnate offered in the interview, but one gets the sense that these days, Affleck doesn't have that much to reveal.
    — Roberta Mercuri, Vanity Fair, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of magnate

Browse Nearby Words

Kafkaesque
kahuna
kahunas
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Cite this Entry

“Kahuna.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kahuna. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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