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
Relevance
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
Quavo, Rick Rubin, Flavor Flav, Metro Boomin, Rich The Kid and Nascar kingpin Kyle Larson were among those attending.
—
Shaheem Reid, Variety, 21 Apr. 2025
An unlikely friendship is forged as the two fugitives attempt to outrun a violent kingpin — and their pasts.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 1 Apr. 2025
Elizabeth Macedonio appeared alongside the 72-year-old former drug kingpin in court Wednesday.
—CBS News, 27 Mar. 2025
That brief run kept Rodriguez highly ranked in the featherweight division at No. 3, which put him in a UFC Fight Night main event against former UFC kingpin Max Holloway in November 2021.
—Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kingpin
Shaheem Reid, Variety, 21 Apr. 2025
An unlikely friendship is forged as the two fugitives attempt to outrun a violent kingpin — and their pasts.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 1 Apr. 2025
Elizabeth Macedonio appeared alongside the 72-year-old former drug kingpin in court Wednesday.
—CBS News, 27 Mar. 2025
That brief run kept Rodriguez highly ranked in the featherweight division at No. 3, which put him in a UFC Fight Night main event against former UFC kingpin Max Holloway in November 2021.
—Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kingpin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kingpin
Noun
-
However, today’s tech leaders’ political positions are a mixed bag.—
Tim Bajarin,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2025
-
The four European leaders jointly visited Kyiv last week and have been calling for Trump to back new sanctions on Russia.—
Pavel Polityuk,
USA Today,
20 May 2025
Noun
-
Harry heads back to the yard, where a group of Kevin's Czechoslovakian hired heavies are preparing for war.—
Matt Cabral,
EW.com,
13 Apr. 2025
-
On Twin Peaks, Strong plays Jones, the right-hand woman for one of the series’ heavies.—
Drew Mackie,
People.com,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The concept made a limited impact with the team because his boss didn’t believe in its usefulness.—
Ben Bolch,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2025
-
But such are the levels of distrust within the game at the moment, when Kogan’s name was first reported as the likely boss of the regulator, some EFL clubs panicked and thought the Premier League had somehow managed to get one of its own in the key role.—
Matt Slater,
New York Times,
11 May 2025
Noun
-
Another possibility or two could develop on draft night depending on how teams value this group of young bigs.—
Dan Woike,
Los Angeles Times,
16 May 2025
-
For this reason, the Bulls should spend this week scouting bigs.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2025
Noun
-
Did the foreman just admit the jury discussed the case prior to deliberations?—
Maureen Maher,
CBS News,
24 Apr. 2025
-
The Lodge, the Villa, and Antelope Ridge were used as guest accommodations that provide a variety of amenities like a game room, a wet bar, and an indoor jacuzzi, while ranch staff shacked up at the two foremen’s houses on the north and south ends of the ranch.—
Demetrius Simms,
Robb Report,
3 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Any frustration the Greek shipping magnate felt was understandable.—
Paul Taylor,
New York Times,
12 May 2025
-
Descendants of Mary Lily Kenan – Henry Flagler’s third wife – continue the tradition begun in 1895, when the railroad magnate built the Palm Beach Inn on the site to complement his nearby Royal Poinciana Hotel.—
Thomas Swick,
Sun Sentinel,
6 May 2025
Noun
-
Every art lover must visit The Louvre at least once in their lifetime not just to see Leonardo’s incredible Mona Lisa and the famous Venus de Milo but for the quieter galleries too in the Richelieu wing with works by masters like Rubens, Rembrandt and Vermeer.—
Joanne Shurvell,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2025
-
Get The Recipe 02 of 10 Pineapple Cherry Dump Cake Some of Grandma’s recipes take a practiced hand in the kitchen to master, but old-school dump cake recipes are literally foolproof.—
Mary Shannon Wells,
Southern Living,
19 May 2025
Noun
-
Luxury goods tycoon and Afrikaner Johann Rupert was also in the delegation to help ease Trump’s concerns that land was being seized from white farmers.—
Gerald Imray,
Chicago Tribune,
21 May 2025
-
In both the book and the Kurosawa film, the tycoon at the center of the story’s conflict is in the shoe business.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
20 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Kingpin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kingpin. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share