1
as in heavyweights
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 leaders
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 kingpins
So how about De Niro playing not one but two Mafia kingpins in the same movie?
—
Marco Della Cava, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025
Crypto kingpins rubbing elbows with the president and the head of the Securities and Exchange Commission?
—Allison Morrow, CNN, 7 Mar. 2025
The last season left off with Rue owing kingpins a couple of g’s without resolving that major story line.
—Zoe Guy, Vulture, 10 Feb. 2025
Beneath the criminal hierarchy of kingpins, middlemen, and trigger pullers is a vast network of supporters greasing the wheels.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 16 Jan. 2025
De Niro stars in a double role as both mob bosses Vito Genovese and Frank Costello, real-life kingpins of New York’s Genovese crime family.
—Sophia Scorziello, Variety, 14 Jan. 2025
In Myanmar’s borderlands, criminal networks that unite Chinese kingpins with ethnic warlords are kidnapping people from all over the globe to toil in factories that scam people online.
—Hannah Beech, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024
Chinese kingpins brought in pill presses to make yaba.
—Hannah Beech, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024
He was initially arrested in Colombia in 1990 under a government program that promised drug kingpins they would not be extradited to the United States.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
Marco Della Cava, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025
Crypto kingpins rubbing elbows with the president and the head of the Securities and Exchange Commission?
—Allison Morrow, CNN, 7 Mar. 2025
The last season left off with Rue owing kingpins a couple of g’s without resolving that major story line.
—Zoe Guy, Vulture, 10 Feb. 2025
Beneath the criminal hierarchy of kingpins, middlemen, and trigger pullers is a vast network of supporters greasing the wheels.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 16 Jan. 2025
De Niro stars in a double role as both mob bosses Vito Genovese and Frank Costello, real-life kingpins of New York’s Genovese crime family.
—Sophia Scorziello, Variety, 14 Jan. 2025
In Myanmar’s borderlands, criminal networks that unite Chinese kingpins with ethnic warlords are kidnapping people from all over the globe to toil in factories that scam people online.
—Hannah Beech, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024
Chinese kingpins brought in pill presses to make yaba.
—Hannah Beech, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024
He was initially arrested in Colombia in 1990 under a government program that promised drug kingpins they would not be extradited to the United States.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kingpins
Noun
-
The offerings revealed by Red Sea Residences, a division of RSG, include waterfront accommodations by hospitality heavyweights Ritz-Carlton, Jumeriah, and Miraval.—
Demetrius Simms,
Robb Report,
6 Apr. 2025
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Sunday’s national championship is a head-on collision between the undisputed heavyweights in women’s basketball.—
Shannon Ryan,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The summit will provide student leaders and future policymakers with new tools and seek to build a network dedicated to confronting hate through projects.—
Russell Contreras,
Axios,
22 Mar. 2025
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The two leaders of each sect also happen to be in love.—
Christopher Murray,
Fox News,
22 Mar. 2025
Noun
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But Missi, 6-11, is 0 for 1 on threes, while the 7-0 Ware is 32 for 101, displaying the type of range that makes NBA bigs more valuable in the modern era.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2025
-
The Red Raiders only have two bigs, so foul trouble is something to keep in mind.—
Tobias Bass,
New York Times,
27 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Kingpins.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kingpins. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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