kingpin

noun

ˈkiŋ-ˌpin How to pronounce kingpin (audio)
Definition of kingpinnext
1
as in heavyweight
one of high position or importance within a group a police sting that nabbed several kingpins of the city's drug trade

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in leader
the person (as an employer or supervisor) who tells people and especially workers what to do finally nailed the mob kingpin who had been controlling all the gambling rackets in the city

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 kingpin But unlike the infamous Colombian kingpin, who flooded American cities with cocaine in the 1970s and ‘80s, there is little evidence to show Marset ever moved any product to the United States. — Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026 The series has focused on criminal kingpin Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio) becoming mayor of New York and then targeting Daredevil and other vigilantes who are in his way. — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2026 The Volunteers have been the kingpin of Arlington ISD football the last two seasons, but several squads like Lamar, Arlington Martin and Arlington seem to have made solid offseason progress. — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Sep. 2026 Sunday treats us to Chalk It Up regulars and bouncing local rock kingpins the Brodys, flanked by Asesinos, Rose Lyon, Sol Peligro and Leaping Blennies. — Aaron Davis, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for kingpin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kingpin
  1. heavyweight
  2. leader
  3. heavy
  4. boss
  5. big
  6. foreman
  7. magnate
  8. master
Noun
  • Once upon a time, Georgia-Florida was an annual heavyweight fight, two proud programs trading punches and championships while their fans traded insults and cocktails in Jacksonville.
    — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Oct. 2026
  • Since taking office, Mamdani has named Diya Vij, an arts-organizations veteran, to lead the Department of Cultural Affairs, and assembled a slew of heavyweights to serve on his Committee on Arts and Culture.
    — Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of heavyweight
Noun
  • Political leaders are calling for national Democratic support in Southern states to increase before the next presidential contest, and for 2028 hopefuls to prioritize black voter outreach.
    — Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 11 Nov. 2026
  • Sacramento City Unified leaders are pressing the city for notifications when ICE operates near schools after a parent was detained blocks from an elementary campus.
    — The Sacramento Bee staff, Sacbee.com, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of leader
Noun
  • Of course, the Nasdaq-100 or a similar tech-heavy index, isn’t guaranteed to deliver 21% returns each year for a decade going forward.
    — Sarah Cannon, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • These days her Halloween costumes are often elaborate and prosthetic-heavy.
    — Marah Eakin, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of heavy
Noun
  • But snakes gonna slither, so Vance (who, to be fair, was never that into this war) is using the moment to subtly blame Hegseth, and the blow seems to have landed, with his party, and with his boss.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
  • This time, however, the boss breaking the bad news is played by Dunham herself.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of boss
Noun
  • The efforts of Onyeka Okongwu and Lu Dort helped minimize any damage from Wizards bigs Alex Sarr and Deandre Ayton.
    — Lauren Williams, AJC.com, 7 Nov. 2026
  • The bigs come out a lot to pressure the ball in ball screen coverage.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of big
Noun
  • That includes the famous case of Phineas Gage, a railroad foreman who survived an 1848 accident that sent a large iron rod directly through his head.
    — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Rooms in the back of the second and third floors had mahogany window frames that peered into the main space, allowing a foreman to supervise workers.
    — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of foreman
Noun
  • The jewels date back to Sofía’s 1962 wedding to the future King Juan Carlos, with the wider suite gifted by Greek shipping magnate Stavros Niarchos and the matching earrings reportedly presented by her mother, Queen Frederica of Greece.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The tour takes guests through the Gilded Age mansion, built in 1904 for furniture magnate Amos Rhodes.
    — Madeline Montgomery, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of magnate
Noun
  • Born in Boston, Carpenter received a master’s degree in library sciences from Simmons College and worked as a librarian.
    — Peter Smith, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Chinese architects, Rama says, got a free education from the western masters.
    — Fred A. Bernstein, Architectural Digest, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of master

Browse Nearby Words

kingly
kingpin
kingpins
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Cite this Entry

“Kingpin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kingpin. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

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