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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of kingpin
Violence follows 2007 presidential bid Odinga reached the peak of his powers as a politician in the 2007 presidential race, winning the support of kingpin leaders from other tribes who merged around him.
—
CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2025
Here's everything to know about the former cartel kingpin's life 10 years after the FBI took down his global drug empire.
—Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025
The son of a former Colombian paramilitary drug-cartel kingpin was sentenced Friday in San Diego federal court to four years and three months in prison for an international cocaine trafficking conspiracy.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Sep. 2025
Leo plays a hot-shot CIA operative trying to track a shadowy terrorist kingpin through Iraq and Jordan.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kingpin
CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2025
Here's everything to know about the former cartel kingpin's life 10 years after the FBI took down his global drug empire.
—Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025
The son of a former Colombian paramilitary drug-cartel kingpin was sentenced Friday in San Diego federal court to four years and three months in prison for an international cocaine trafficking conspiracy.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Sep. 2025
Leo plays a hot-shot CIA operative trying to track a shadowy terrorist kingpin through Iraq and Jordan.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kingpin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kingpin
Noun
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The congratulatory messages from the two ex-presidents, who are among the Democratic Party’s most popular national figures, appear to be a signal mainstream Democratic heavyweights are warming up to Mamdani as the party continues to regroup following staggering losses nationally in 2024.—
Chris Sommerfeldt,
Mercury News,
7 Nov. 2025
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In the first episode of Season 3, Tommy is working to unite the city's biggest drug heavyweights to solidify his own network alongside his partner, Diamond.—
Taylor Ardrey,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The president worked with Gifford Pinchot—the US Forest Service’s first leader—on a publicity campaign in this realm, and came to appoint a commission in 1903 that held public hearings and investigations the president knew would grab headlines.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
7 Nov. 2025
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Sustainable transformation isn’t achieved by a mandate; instead, it’s driven by leaders who focus on people first.—
Feon Ang,
Fortune,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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There is going to be a special burgundy-heavy edition of the book.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
8 Nov. 2025
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If the Rockets go big-heavy often, Reed Sheppard loses some shine.—
Stan Son,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The fascination with boss-employee relationships will probably never fade.—
Emily Nix,
Fortune,
9 Nov. 2025
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Another individual familiar with events said Turness, the boss of BBC News, has repeatedly made efforts to get the corporation to respond to Prescott’s memo.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The rosters, which have not been finalized, will consist of Major League Baseball hopefuls with no guarantee of getting to the bigs.—
Denny Alfonso,
New York Times,
10 Nov. 2025
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Cherry also resembles one of the best bigs in basketball in Karl-Anthony Towns of the New York Knicks, from the build to the high hair and the cool and calm demeanor.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Her husband joined the company six years ago, working long hours as a foreman and project estimator.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
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Umanzor Molina, 39, a construction foreman who worked on projects at Miami International Airport, was detained in a day care parking lot in Aventura, Florida.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
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His associate director, Hannah (Megan Haley), is the daughter of very successful dental-floss magnates but refuses to ask them to contribute.—
Sophie Brookover,
Vulture,
7 Nov. 2025
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But a Miami bank did consider the magnate and his family risky.—
Antonio Maria Delgado,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Joining them were a who’s who of rock acts, playing for free, paying homage to the original masters of metal, the likes of Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, and Alice in Chains.—
Stephen Rea,
Rolling Stone,
11 Nov. 2025
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For him, that included college and a master’s degree.—
Chris Dovi,
USA Today,
11 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Kingpin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kingpin. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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