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
  • 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
  • Graham Corporation has secured two US defense contracts worth more than $43 million to supply equipment for the MK48 Mod 7 heavyweight torpedo and the country’s submarine fleet.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of heavyweight
Noun
  • That is a remarkable incentive, if not catnip, to send Condon to the bigs.
    — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Pick-and-rolls at the top of the floor with bigs, pick-and-rolls with smalls.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of big
Noun
  • Dallas Caton’s bass-heavy production lays the foundation for the frantic and propulsive record.
    — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 31 July 2026
  • Soon after Rhaenyra executes Otto Hightower, who was once mastermind of that family’s schemes, Ormund steps up to be the faction’s new heavy.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 13 July 2026
Definition of heavy
Noun
  • Accessibility The hotel includes two accessible rooms, each with a king bed, roll-in shower, and private balcony.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Available from twin to California king in a wide variety of colors and new fun patterns.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of king
Noun
  • As Amziah demonstrates during this lesson, the queen is the center of the universe, and without her, the colony would collapse.
    — Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Its final act closes the circle, bringing the action back to Sicilia and to the grieving king, whom Paulina presents with a statue of his lost queen.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of queen
Noun
  • This transfer leaves more than 20 lions and tigers at Luján while Four Paws searches for their long-term homes.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • In the Legislature, a key issue has been ensuring that the lion’s share of any funding would go to support union jobs.
    — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of lion
Noun
  • Brazil’s Minas Gerais will soon see another museum thanks to mining magnate Bernardo Paz, the megacollector behind the Inhotim museum and nature complex.
    — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The consortium is being led by Amit Bhatia, the son-in-law of Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 10 Aug. 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 17 Aug. 2026.

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