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
The essayist and Transcendentalist kingpin was impressed.
—
James Marcus, New Yorker, 2 June 2025
Similarly, the Department of Justice has pulled back from policing financial crimes, including those involving cryptocurrency, whose kingpins were among Trump’s most generous donors.
—Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 May 2025
Meanwhile, in the co-main event, UFC flyweight kingpin Alexandre Pantoja puts his title on the line against Kai Kara-France.
—Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
That event drives the Buckleys down a dark path that eventually pits them in the middle of two warring drug kingpins, the Parker family and a notorious smuggler named Grady (Topher Grace).
—Keith Langston, People.com, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for kingpin
James Marcus, New Yorker, 2 June 2025
Similarly, the Department of Justice has pulled back from policing financial crimes, including those involving cryptocurrency, whose kingpins were among Trump’s most generous donors.
—Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 May 2025
Meanwhile, in the co-main event, UFC flyweight kingpin Alexandre Pantoja puts his title on the line against Kai Kara-France.
—Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
That event drives the Buckleys down a dark path that eventually pits them in the middle of two warring drug kingpins, the Parker family and a notorious smuggler named Grady (Topher Grace).
—Keith Langston, People.com, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for kingpin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kingpin
Noun
-
The White House sent letters to leaders of several countries announcing blanket tariffs ranging from 25% to 40% starting Aug. 1.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
8 July 2025
-
The Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, addresses the audience to celebrate his 90th birthday at Tsuglagkhang, the Dalai Lama Temple, on July 06, 2025 in Dharamshala, India.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 July 2025
Noun
-
Others are the heaviest of the heavy: a college student rendered brain-dead by a fentanyl overdose, a little girl who fatally drowns while saving her sister who fell into their swimming pool.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
17 May 2025
-
Class struggle is reflected in the way that the back-alley heavy, Atticus Hawk, dismisses the ivory-tower eccentricity of the occult specialist Scholar Vitali.—
The New York Times,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
Noun
-
Jumper eventually became air boss on the Midway, as the Vietnam War was fading out.—
Gary Robbins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 July 2025
-
The then-Red Bull boss stated that Ferrari must prioritize becoming a winning team, and admitted that heading it was a high-pressure job.—
Saajan Jogia,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
Perimeter defense was a clear struggle for L.A., forcing late challenges by bigs leading to 25 free throws.—
Micheel Alharazy,
Los Angeles Times,
6 July 2025
-
The top remaining free agent bigs include Al Horford, Deandre Ayton, and Moe Wagner.—
Tony East,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
Noun
-
Subramanian’s deputy asked the jury foreman, who responded in the affirmative.—
Victoria Bekiempis,
Vulture,
2 July 2025
-
The jury foreman in the Karen Read retrial called on the FBI to take its own look into the death of Boston Police Department officer John O'Keefe.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
26 June 2025
Noun
-
Coffee magnate Prayudh Mahagitsiri’s wealth took a hit as his PM Group’s long-standing joint venture with Nestle ended.—
Phisanu Phromchanya,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
-
The island's first inhabitants were the Gabrielino Indigenous Peoples, and the island has changed ownership since the 1800s until purchased by chewing gum magnate William Wrigley, Jr.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
24 June 2025
Noun
-
Upper Buffalo Land Becomes Wilderness Area Tom Foti is a master botanist and former ecologist/research chief at the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
6 July 2025
-
Learn how to meal prep like a pro, create quick and nutritious grab-and-go options, and master time-saving hacks that keep you energized without the morning chaos.—
Essence,
Essence,
6 July 2025
Noun
-
At the height of the Greek junta, Irma is murdered by her husband, a tycoon, on their private island.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
8 July 2025
-
The debut comes after the tycoon—son of famed Hong Kong businessman Li Ka-shing—tried to take the company public in New York in 2021, which was abandoned after regulatory scrutiny.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
7 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Kingpin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kingpin. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share