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
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Example Sentences
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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
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
Noun
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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.
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Cape Verde earned a shocking draw with heavyweight Spain at Atlanta Stadium.
Noun
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Robinson will be a far tougher test for Embiid and the East’s other bigs.
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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.
Noun
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Geoffrey Lechantoux is responsible for the French-seafood-heavy menu.
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Most standard blends are nitrogen-heavy, which encourages leaf growth instead of fruit.
Noun
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The future king of Britain descends from American patriots who fought against the crown he is destined to inherit, according to a new book tracing Prince William's family tree.
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The Goodnight Suite is the crème de la crème of the property spanning almost 2,000 square feet and featuring a living room, dining room, and a bedroom with a king size bed.
Noun
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Resting options include double bunk beds in back and queen bed with bamboo mattress up front.
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Get a king for the price of a queen, or a queen for the price of a twin, plus a free adjustable base during the sale.
Noun
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While the Sooryavanshi show played out, Abhishek Sharma was busy hammering the lion’s share of a 50-run stand.
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Sea lion pups among most vulnerable Young California sea lions are among the most vulnerable marine mammals during marine heat wave events, according to the National Park Service.
Noun
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French and Ukrainian media reported that a Ukrainian magnate and his family were those injured.
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Jolie balked at the term and struck a $64 million deal with the billionaire alcohol magnate, Yuri Shefler.
Cite this Entry
“Kahuna.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kahuna. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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