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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of kingpins
Premiering in 2002, the crime drama depicted life on the streets of Baltimore with uncompromising realism, following a sprawling cast of characters from police officers to drug kingpins.
—
Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 2 June 2026
The life-and-death stakes were raised when the former high school series jumped five years to show a now-young adult Rue becoming a drug mule and working for rival kingpins (Martha Kelly’s Laurie also took her own life in the finale).
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 1 June 2026
The notorious hotspot, now a luxury property, was a fave hangout of violent kingpins, hard-living celebs, dirty cops and crooked politicians.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 22 May 2026
New concepts abound as TV-news kingpins work to meet younger viewers in new environments.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 19 May 2026
Just when the officers come up with a plan to arrest Carter and Hakan for their respective drug empires, the kingpins start to become suspicious of their team members and become convinced that they've been infiltrated.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 12 May 2026
Cambodia passed unprecedented legislation Monday imposing life imprisonment for scam kingpins as the nation vows to eliminate cyber fraud operations by month’s end.
—Sopheng Cheang, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
The legislation also ignores the reality that as the kingpins in the SEC and Big Ten have gotten really rich, the other leagues have seen healthy returns and profits as well at roughly the same pace.
—Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 5 Mar. 2026
In Culiacan, in neighboring Sinaloa state, home to a cartel of the same name, there is a cemetery known for its luxury crypts and mausoleums for one-time kingpins like Ignacio Coronel - an old associate of El Mencho - and Arturo Beltrán Leyva.
—CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 2 June 2026
The life-and-death stakes were raised when the former high school series jumped five years to show a now-young adult Rue becoming a drug mule and working for rival kingpins (Martha Kelly’s Laurie also took her own life in the finale).
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 1 June 2026
The notorious hotspot, now a luxury property, was a fave hangout of violent kingpins, hard-living celebs, dirty cops and crooked politicians.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 22 May 2026
New concepts abound as TV-news kingpins work to meet younger viewers in new environments.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 19 May 2026
Just when the officers come up with a plan to arrest Carter and Hakan for their respective drug empires, the kingpins start to become suspicious of their team members and become convinced that they've been infiltrated.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 12 May 2026
Cambodia passed unprecedented legislation Monday imposing life imprisonment for scam kingpins as the nation vows to eliminate cyber fraud operations by month’s end.
—Sopheng Cheang, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
The legislation also ignores the reality that as the kingpins in the SEC and Big Ten have gotten really rich, the other leagues have seen healthy returns and profits as well at roughly the same pace.
—Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 5 Mar. 2026
In Culiacan, in neighboring Sinaloa state, home to a cartel of the same name, there is a cemetery known for its luxury crypts and mausoleums for one-time kingpins like Ignacio Coronel - an old associate of El Mencho - and Arturo Beltrán Leyva.
—CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kingpins
Noun
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Inside the Alif Institute, fans packed into the Arab cultural center in Embry Hills with the fervor of a stadium’s fan section as two World Cup heavyweights, Morocco and Brazil, faced off to a 1-1 draw.—
Amna Subhan,
AJC.com,
19 June 2026
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Also on Wednesday, Harry Kane of England and Croatia's Luka Modrić square off in a Group L match of heavyweights.—
Russell Lewis,
NPR,
17 June 2026
Noun
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After the official signing of the 14-point peace plan between the United States and Iran, world leaders have welcomed the diplomatic efforts.—
Pamela Avila,
CNN Money,
18 June 2026
-
Tech executives and other business leaders oppose the idea and have threatened to move to other states.—
Queenie Wong,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
Noun
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The Miami Herald’s three-part NBA Draft preview concludes with a look at the bigs who are expected to be selected in the Heat’s range in the first round (if Miami keeps the pick).—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
21 June 2026
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Almost all the point guards are likely gone at that point, but there are some intriguing bigs on the market in the early 20s.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 June 2026
Noun
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New laws in California, Colorado, Connecticut and Illinois seek to curb AI bias, rein in ‘robo bosses’ and protect children from opaque, emotionally manipulative chatbots.—
Marc Levy,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2026
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Happily the Beemer bosses have taken the latter road.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
21 June 2026
Noun
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In any year, in any culture, there are no antagonists (save for Nazis) better suited as action cinema heavies; rooting against child trafficking lowlifes is moral, easy, and best of all, a completely guiltless pleasure.—
Andy Crump,
IndieWire,
15 June 2026
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However, on season 2 of Twin Peaks, the actress played Miss Jones, the right-hand woman for one of the series' heavies, Thomas Eckhardt (the late David Warner).—
Drew Mackie,
PEOPLE,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Customers were very important; workers, foremen.—
Michael Kilian,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
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For years after that, TCU alums who had served as Ranch Week foremen or queen would proudly include it on resumes, in professional biographies or when running for office.—
Matt Leclercq,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Make sure the tires reconnect with the road - During the skid, wait until the tires reconnect with the road and then gently straighten the wheels to regain control.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
19 June 2026
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Another video showed the carriage flipping over with the remaining passengers inside after its wheels struck another carriage at the park.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
Noun
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Because these islands were so isolated, Caymanians became masters of resourcefulness.—
Baz Dreisinger,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
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González developed her classic yet defiantly modern approach while studying at the University of Seville, where Spanish masters such as Diego Velázquez and Francisco de Zurbarán painted in the naturalist Baroque tradition.—
Jane Horowitz,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kingpins.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kingpins. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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