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

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 Restaurant and nightclub kingpin Charles Khabouth, a top party host for major studio and streamer movie premieres at the Toronto Film Festival each year, expects to feed and honor more Hollywood A-stars in town this year for the 2026 edition. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2026 Rex plays Landry Taylor, the ruthless kingpin who controls the film’s bodybuilding world. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2026 Directed by Potsy Ponciroli, the film features Ritchson as John Miller, a 1970s Detroit factory worker framed for drugs by a crime kingpin after falling for his ex-girlfriend. — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026 The track, which calls to mind the Killers and other kingpins of synth-rock, is also a preview of New Translations’ forthcoming album, the follow-up to their 2025 debut Vacation. — Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 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
  • Rob Lowe had plenty of competition for blockbuster roles in the 1980s and ’90s – and one Hollywood heavyweight repeatedly stood in his way.
    — Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2026
  • The expectation for this season was that Michigan would be competitive against every team on the schedule, including Big Ten heavyweights Ohio State, Oregon and Indiana.
    — Austin Meek, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of heavyweight
Noun
  • New Hampshire’s premier Senate race is on after party leaders secured their top choices in what’s shaping up to be one of the tightest contests in the entire country come November.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Singapore pays its political leaders high salaries to attract talent and deter graft, but the issue is thorny in the city-state, where the median wage worker made S$5,775 ($736) a month in 2025.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of leader
Noun
  • Mehring’s characters include petty criminals, unscrupulous lawyers, Galician Jews, Freikorps heavies, local and international businessmen, Prussian generals, and the everyday citizens inhabiting the streets of Berlin’s old and rather dingy center.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026
  • At the same time, Benz noted, retirees don't want a mainly stock-heavy portfolio that would mean your only option would be to sell stocks during a longer downturn.
    — Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of heavy
Noun
  • Ahead of being presented with the award, the animation boss sat down with Deadline to talk about his work, and tease some of what’s next.
    — Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Bertrand is a hands-on boss, and even when relaxing by the pool or doing a little skeet shooting, a worried one.
    — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of boss
Noun
  • Unfortunately, the less said about China’s guards, the better; their main job is to get the ball past half court without turning it over and then feed the bigs.
    — Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • That is a remarkable incentive, if not catnip, to send Condon to the bigs.
    — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of big
Noun
  • The Nepal Electricity Authority named the two men who were rescued alive as 30-year-old Sanjay Sah, a mechanical foreman from Saptari district in eastern Nepal, and Kabir Maharjan, 45, a mechanical supervisor from Kathmandu.
    — Bhadra Sharma, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Officials identified them as a mechanical foreman and a mechanical supervisor at the Trishuli 3A plant.
    — James Cirrone, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of foreman
Noun
  • This Gulf Coast city is Florida’s arts capital, with a cultural compound that grew from the fortunes of circus magnate John Ringling.
    — Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The promise of Kroenke, a multi-sport magnate who has won championships in the NBA, NHL and NFL, provided some of the optimism expressed this week.
    — Andy McCullough, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of magnate
Noun
  • The fragrances have been in development for roughly two-and-a-half years and were created with master perfumers Frank Voelkl and Shyamala Maisondieu.
    — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2026
  • That data monitoring, in addition to master literacy coaches at each CMS campus to address specific student learning needs, has made a big impact, Balknight said.
    — Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of master

Browse Nearby Words

kingly
kingpin
kingpins
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Kingpin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kingpin. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of hobnob

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
funny guinea pig in glasses reading a book
Challenging Words You Should Know Vol 2 Words to the wise
See All