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
Relevance
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
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 kingpins
Another 22 billionaires returned to the ranking after dropping off the list in a previous year, including crypto kingpins Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss and stock trading app Robinhood’s Baiju Bhatt.
—
Thomas Gallagher, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Described as cocaine kingpins and convicted of a non-violent drug conspiracy, the brothers had been in prison since the mid-1990s, according to NBC DFW.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Aug. 2025
The same goes for Georgia and Ohio State and several other current kingpins.
—Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2025
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
Thomas Gallagher, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Described as cocaine kingpins and convicted of a non-violent drug conspiracy, the brothers had been in prison since the mid-1990s, according to NBC DFW.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Aug. 2025
The same goes for Georgia and Ohio State and several other current kingpins.
—Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kingpins
Noun
-
Why the disparity in box office results between the social media heavyweights?—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Guest stars on the series included Broadway heavyweights Kristin Chenoweth, Alan Cumming, Ariana DeBose, Jane Krakowski and Aaron Tveit, among others.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Goldberg-Polin has become a global advocate for the remaining hostages, meeting with world leaders and speaking publicly about her loss.—
Romina Ruiz-Goiriena,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
-
CEOs and global leaders will gather for a dynamic, invitation-only event shaping the future of business.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
For a team that has always played with four smalls, going to a lineup with two real bigs feels like a sea change.—
John Hollinger,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Waiving Bradley without seeing how healthy those two bigs are would be irresponsible.—
Tony East,
Forbes.com,
25 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The police don’t seem to know whether to go with what the stewards are recommending or what their bosses have set out.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
-
The Amazon gift bestsellers span little luxuries that make easy gifts for women, practical picks that double as gifts for men, and culinary crowd-pleasers for bosses or housewarmings.—
Malia Griggs,
Glamour,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
In February, Mayor Harrell, at the behest of local heavies such as Amazon and Microsoft, led the opposition to a referendum on another tax on those companies which would help pay for public, mixed-income housing in a city that desperately needs it.—
Bill McKibben,
New Yorker,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
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.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Oct. 2025
-
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,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Evaluating performance in games such as Go is straightforward; AI was beating Go masters by 2016.—
Nikita Ostrovsky,
Time,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The song’s 478 words, just 56 shy of the Newsweek article itself, told the story with both economy and feeling, two masters that are hard to please in one song.—
John U. Bacon,
Rolling Stone,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Kingpins.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kingpins. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share