variants
also poo-bah
as in heavyweight
one of high position or importance within a group
an annual clambake that attracts political pooh-bahs from around the state
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 pooh-bah
This kind of surgical enhancement can still be frowned upon in the restoration world, decried as fakery by the pooh-bahs of all-original-everything.
—
Lawrence Ulrich, Robb Report, 13 July 2024
To Richardson-Merrell’s pooh-bahs, her scrutiny seemed like the dilatory work of someone who didn’t know how the game was played.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harper's Magazine, 30 Mar. 2024
Like Joe Rogan, the carnivorous pooh-bah of this intellectual space, Brand appeared interested in teaching a certain kind of man how to be a certain kind of man, mining the tension between think-for-yourself riffs and listen-to-me conclusions.
—Matt Flegenheimer, New York Times, 13 Nov. 2023
But the pooh-bahs in Brussels didn’t exactly rush to say yes.
—Tunku Varadarajan, WSJ, 25 Oct. 2023
Lawrence Ulrich, Robb Report, 13 July 2024
To Richardson-Merrell’s pooh-bahs, her scrutiny seemed like the dilatory work of someone who didn’t know how the game was played.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harper's Magazine, 30 Mar. 2024
Like Joe Rogan, the carnivorous pooh-bah of this intellectual space, Brand appeared interested in teaching a certain kind of man how to be a certain kind of man, mining the tension between think-for-yourself riffs and listen-to-me conclusions.
—Matt Flegenheimer, New York Times, 13 Nov. 2023
But the pooh-bahs in Brussels didn’t exactly rush to say yes.
—Tunku Varadarajan, WSJ, 25 Oct. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pooh-bah
Noun
-
Any frustration the Greek shipping magnate felt was understandable.—
Paul Taylor,
New York Times,
12 May 2025
-
Descendants of Mary Lily Kenan – Henry Flagler’s third wife – continue the tradition begun in 1895, when the railroad magnate built the Palm Beach Inn on the site to complement his nearby Royal Poinciana Hotel.—
Thomas Swick,
Sun Sentinel,
6 May 2025
Noun
-
Luxury goods tycoon and Afrikaner Johann Rupert was also in the delegation to help ease Trump’s concerns that land was being seized from white farmers.—
Gerald Imray,
Chicago Tribune,
21 May 2025
-
In both the book and the Kurosawa film, the tycoon at the center of the story’s conflict is in the shoe business.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
20 May 2025
Noun
-
Visit the Binnenhof, one of Europe’s oldest parliamentary buildings and stroll past Noordeinde Palace, the working palace of the Dutch king.—
Joanne Shurvell,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2025
-
The heart king may not be pulling its full weight but might provide a discard.—
Deb Harvell,
Arkansas Online,
18 May 2025
Noun
-
Upset about being undercut, the Texas bigwig resolves to put Georgie out of business.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
16 May 2025
-
Lobbyist Robert McBride, who just sold his house in Montauk for over $10 million to Carbone’s chef Rich Torrisi, has been holding court there with political bigwigs.—
Richard Johnson,
New York Daily News,
11 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pooh-bah.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pooh-bah. Accessed 28 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share