mover and shaker

noun

Definition of mover and shakernext
as in fat cat

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 mover and shaker Many Illinois movers and shakers have shifted focus from state issues to national and global matters that affect their businesses. — Jim Nowlan, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026 But Izzard has a way of making the movers and shakers at Elsinore seem as familiar as workplace colleagues. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 25 Jan. 2026 Some of the Musk fanbase might cheer loudly, seeing him as the absolute mover and shaker. — Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 31 Dec. 2025 But as a company, Ziggi’s is a mover and shaker. — Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 8 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mover and shaker
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mover and shaker
  1. fat cat
  2. big boy
  3. big wheel
  4. big gun
  5. main man
  6. big cheese
  7. notable
  8. heavy
Noun
  • His fat cat industrialist Zsa-Zsa Korda is no underground rebel.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026
  • The fat cats in Congress who’ve been making a killing on Wall Street were none too pleased.
    — Boston Herald editorial staff, Boston Herald, 26 Feb. 2026
Definition of fat cat
Noun
  • Thibodeau is a big boy, and Dolan is still paying him a lot of money from that $30 million extension signed in the summer of 2024.
    — Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 17 June 2026
  • But taking on one of Wall Street’s big boys, and then getting squashed for it, ranks right up there.
    — Liz Peek, Washington Post, 4 May 2026
Definition of big boy
Noun
  • For all of its strengths, my one wish for the Weber Kettle is better wheel nuts holding the big wheels in place.
    — Matthew Korfhage, Wired News, 17 May 2026
  • Denali versions aim for gloss, chrome, big wheels and illuminated badging, while the AT4 gets the tougher costume - 35-inch allou-terrain tires, red recovery hooks, extra ground clearance and a more trail-minded stance flavor.
    — Josh Max, Forbes.com, 6 May 2026
Definition of big wheel
Noun
  • Clinging to a one-run lead and with the top of the order due up, Tracy went to one of his big guns, calling in Whitlock to put out the fire.
    — Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 24 May 2026
  • The Minnesota Wild’s big guns showed up in a big way Saturday night, and the Avs looked wobbly for the first time in this tournament in a 5-1 loss in Game 3 at Grand Casino Arena.
    — Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 10 May 2026
Definition of big gun
Noun
  • Andy Green is set to be the Mets’ main man for the remainder of the season, tapped as the interim manager following Friday’s firing of Carlos Mendoza.
    — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 26 June 2026
  • Crucially for England, their main man, Harry Kane, got off the mark scoring twice.
    — Elias Burke, New York Times, 23 June 2026
Definition of main man
Noun
  • But a big cheese board affords the chance for people to try something new.
    — Betty Hallock, Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec. 2024
  • So for decades only accredited scholars, the occasional journalist and big cheeses got to see inside.
    — Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2023
Definition of big cheese
Noun
  • In 1784, Hamilton sent Miranda a long list of notables who would be interested in South American intervention.
    — Lindsay Schakenbach Regele, The Conversation, 13 July 2026
  • The cruise ship that capsized in Puerto Vallarta in 2021 and launched several gay notables into the sea.
    — JP Brammer, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 July 2026
Definition of notable
Noun
  • Soon after Rhaenyra executes Otto Hightower, who was once mastermind of that family’s schemes, Ormund steps up to be the faction’s new heavy.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 13 July 2026
  • Shares of Meta are flat on the year, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq-100 is up 18%.
    — Oliver Renick, CNBC, 10 July 2026
Definition of heavy

Browse Nearby Words

mover
mover and shaker
movers
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mover and shaker.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mover%20and%20shaker. Accessed 17 Jul. 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 obdurate

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

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

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 17
See More

Popular

See More

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

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
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
child-detective
Spot the Misspelled Word July 2026 Those little red underlines can't help you now...
See All