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
  • Chip heavyweight Nvidia is rolling out a new software platform that allows AI developers to set safeguards for agents to prevent them from misbehaving.
    — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Sporting a cowboy hat, grill and goatee, Cho makes for a menacing villain who more than holds his own against the heavyweight Ali.
    — Marlow Stern, Variety, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of heavyweight
Noun
  • Recruiting Cohen is a big to support Black Bear’s investment in a broad slate of independent films.
    — Mya Copeland, Variety, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Polish superstar Robert Lewandowski joining the Chicago Fire has been a big to Woznik, who is just as likely to groove to the great romantic 19th century Polish composer Frederic Chopin.
    — Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of big
Noun
  • This is not the most visually appealing app on the market as bet365 is typically more text-heavy anyway.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The tech-heavy Nasdaq led the major averages, rising 2% for the week, while the S & P 500 jumped 1%.
    — Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of heavy
Noun
  • William will one day be king, with a formal role in the Church of England.
    — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Muñoz noted in his manuscript that the telescope belonged to the king and was made by Galileo.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of king
Noun
  • The queen bee of the group is Paulina (a sensational Denée Benton), who rambles on about her American cousins and her pro-football player boyfriend Kofi, whom no one has actually met.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Over the years, the queen of pop has hit the VMAs main stage countless times—each time delivering a pop culture moment that has been remembered for years to come.
    — Christian Allaire, Vogue, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of queen
Noun
  • One of Stallone's earliest gigs was cleaning the lion cages at Central Park Zoo.
    — Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Yet, in The Radiance, the students receive the lion’s share of the scrutiny while their teachers’ vanity and self-interest pass as disillusionment.
    — Zain Khalid, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of lion
Noun
  • The shipping magnate led Hong Kong from 1997 to 2005, steering it through the Asian financial crisis, deadly SARS outbreak and massive protests over a controversial anti-treason law.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026
  • The President, who likes his steak well done and slathered in ketchup, met with a Brazilian beef magnate named Joesley Batista, who in the past had admitted to making large payments to public officials and was briefly jailed.
    — Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of magnate

Browse Nearby Words

Kafkaesque
kahuna
kahunas
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Kahuna.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kahuna. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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