as in heavyweight
one of high position or importance within a group
the once-tiny ad agency is now a big leaguer that attracts clients on the A-list
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Recent Examples of big leaguer
Around him was not a single big leaguer, minor leaguer, or anyone with a heater topping 90 miles per hour.
—
Sam Blum, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2026
Anthony becomes the 12th Red Sox big leaguer to commit to the WBC.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 16 Feb. 2026
Brazil’s Joseph Contreras, a 17-year-old right-hander who is a son of former big leaguer José Contreras, is the youngest player on any roster.
—Ronald Blum, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
But chief baseball officer Craig Breslow is a former big leaguer and a Yale graduate.
—Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026
After going hitless in his first two at-bats, Bob Seymour reached base for the first time as a big leaguer by drawing a walk.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 16 Aug. 2025
Sam Blum, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2026
Anthony becomes the 12th Red Sox big leaguer to commit to the WBC.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 16 Feb. 2026
Brazil’s Joseph Contreras, a 17-year-old right-hander who is a son of former big leaguer José Contreras, is the youngest player on any roster.
—Ronald Blum, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
But chief baseball officer Craig Breslow is a former big leaguer and a Yale graduate.
—Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026
After going hitless in his first two at-bats, Bob Seymour reached base for the first time as a big leaguer by drawing a walk.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 16 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for big leaguer
Noun
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The Actor award went to Amy Madigan, a lone nominee from a horror film who’s swimming against a prevailing current that favors Best Picture heavyweights.—
Nate Jones,
Vulture,
12 Mar. 2026
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The kingdom is the region’s heavyweight, and its decisions could shape whether others follow.—
Abbas Al Lawati,
CNN Money,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
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How the Script Walks a Tonal Tightrope Radcliffe credited playwrights Macmillan and Donahoe with building a structure that lets the performer pivot rapidly between the heavy and the silly.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Unlike, say, Mexican or South Asian cuisines, American food is not particularly bean-heavy.—
Yasmin Tayag,
The Atlantic,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The Cowboys took advantage of those precious seconds when TCU’s bigs would rotate back to find open men cutting to the basket or shooters in the corner.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Mar. 2026
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Actually, most starting Big Ten bigs would leave Fielder in the dust.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Cohen is a star baseball player for Windward and Fullmer plays football for Harvard-Westlake and is the son of former major leaguer Brad Fullmer, one of the best players ever out of Montclair Prep.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Jan. 2026
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Former Yankees pitcher and the oldest living major leaguer Art Schallock died at age 100 on March 6.—
Brendan Le,
PEOPLE,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Will the Niners spend like big boys and sign Hendrickson, Linderbaum and JFM?—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
9 Mar. 2026
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Only little boys are called big boys.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The team needs that supporting cast clicking at the same time as big guns to create more sustained pressure.—
Dom Luszczyszyn,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Anthopoulos wants a big gun Obviously, the Braves are shopping to augment their starting rotation.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
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More Coloradans are seeing the big wheel spin in their favor each year.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Denver Post,
5 Feb. 2026
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The cars that Geely showcased at CES, in Las Vegas, were large SUVs with big wheels, opulent interiors, and three rows of seats—not unlike a Ford Explorer.—
Patrick George,
The Atlantic,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Also, officials say all four iconic lion statues at the entrances of the bridge are being preserved.—
Cecilio Padilla,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
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On a night safari in Botswana, for example, my heart broke as guides used mega-watt flashlights to show us hyenas, lions, and bush babies.—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Outside,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Big leaguer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/big%20leaguer. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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