as in heavies
one of high position or importance within a group
a heavyweight in the U.S. Senate, he has a lot of clout in judicial confirmations
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Recent Examples of heavyweights
Meanwhile, Wells Fargo analysts noted that AI and amateur-generated content often lacks compelling narrative elements found in traditional media, leaving room for Hollywood heavyweights to continue courting audiences in a rapidly evolving landscape.
—
Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 13 Feb. 2026
By his fourth season in the NBA, the Suns had established themselves as heavyweights in the West.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2026
But Abridge is contending with heavyweights on every side.
—Brittany Trang, STAT, 10 Feb. 2026
In a match between the heavyweights Jarrell Miller and Kingsley Ibeh, an uppercut from Ibeh caused Miller’s hairpiece to flap back like the lid on a box.
—Brian Seibert, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
The Winter Games will also welcome various VIPs—both athletes, such as current figure skating world champion Ilia Malinin, and Hollywood heavyweights, including Tom Cruise, who is expected to attend the opening ceremony to promote the upcoming 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
—Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 6 Feb. 2026
Ceremonial looks channel national heritage through the lens of major designers and iconic brands—Ralph Lauren, Emporio Armani, and Moncler—while performance gear from heavyweights like Adidas and Lululemon has been engineered for the challenges of ice, altitude, and speed.
—Christina Pérez, Vogue, 3 Feb. 2026
In 1907, it was redesigned as a bank in the style of an Italian Renaissance palazzo by McKim, Mead & White, the architects who put their stamp on New York heavyweights like the Brooklyn Museum and the original Penn Station.
—Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026
By April 2025, Gates and Kianni pivoted to build an iOS app, and brought on heavyweights like Kleiner Perkins and Michael Rubin, among others.
—Alexandra York, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 13 Feb. 2026
By his fourth season in the NBA, the Suns had established themselves as heavyweights in the West.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2026
But Abridge is contending with heavyweights on every side.
—Brittany Trang, STAT, 10 Feb. 2026
In a match between the heavyweights Jarrell Miller and Kingsley Ibeh, an uppercut from Ibeh caused Miller’s hairpiece to flap back like the lid on a box.
—Brian Seibert, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
The Winter Games will also welcome various VIPs—both athletes, such as current figure skating world champion Ilia Malinin, and Hollywood heavyweights, including Tom Cruise, who is expected to attend the opening ceremony to promote the upcoming 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
—Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 6 Feb. 2026
Ceremonial looks channel national heritage through the lens of major designers and iconic brands—Ralph Lauren, Emporio Armani, and Moncler—while performance gear from heavyweights like Adidas and Lululemon has been engineered for the challenges of ice, altitude, and speed.
—Christina Pérez, Vogue, 3 Feb. 2026
In 1907, it was redesigned as a bank in the style of an Italian Renaissance palazzo by McKim, Mead & White, the architects who put their stamp on New York heavyweights like the Brooklyn Museum and the original Penn Station.
—Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026
By April 2025, Gates and Kianni pivoted to build an iOS app, and brought on heavyweights like Kleiner Perkins and Michael Rubin, among others.
—Alexandra York, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heavyweights
Noun
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The Paramount executive also became president of the American Motion Picture Association (precursor to the MPA) in 1925, beating out the likes of Marcus Loew, Lasky, William Fox, Hays, Sam Rothafel, Sam Katz, Carl Laemmle, Joseph Schenck, and other Hollywood heavies.—
Chris Yogerst,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Jan. 2026
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Kier’s American career centered around playing heavies.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
24 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Booker stood up to the Boilermakers’ bigs, blocking three shots of his own, playing a season-high 35 minutes three days after being iced out of the rotation against the Buckeyes.—
Aaron Heisen,
Daily News,
6 Feb. 2026
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Adding Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder gives the Cavs the deepest back court in the East, and if Harden’s play-making can elevate Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen as pick-and-roll or pick-and-pop bigs, the Cavs could be the team best positioned to spoil New York’s championship run.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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In its sophomore season, Cross is in pursuit of a ruthless vigilante who is hunting down corrupt billionaire magnates.—
Jessica Radloff,
Glamour,
1 Feb. 2026
-
During the 2021 recall fight, Newsom also attracted high-profile billionaire support from Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings, and agribusiness magnates Stewart and Lynda Resnick.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Clean lines, an intriguing silhouette, and bold wheels give it real presence (right down to taillights that nod to the Nissan Z).—
Cyril Soliman,
The Drive,
5 Feb. 2026
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Yet after gesturing toward a promising thriller setup, the film soon begins to spin its wheels — doing little to complicate or tighten the melodrama, while only superficially probing its two principal characters as their romance is inevitably reignited.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Once favored by scientists and royalty, Haghartsin now holds the graves of kings.—
Marlise Kast-Myers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Quite a few wine bottle sizes are named after Biblical kings and historical figures.—
Jessica Farthing,
Southern Living,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But where does Ted Turner live now that other tycoons have bought up enough acreage to surpass his record?—
Katie Schultz,
Architectural Digest,
6 Feb. 2026
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During the Cannes Film Festival, tycoons and oligarchs feature on the guest list, rubbing shoulders with high-profile celebrities who relax with croquet games between press junkets.—
Mary Winston Nicklin,
AFAR Media,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
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With Valentine's Day approaching, zookeepers hope love will be in the air as the Sacramento Zoo introduces its male and female lions.—
Cecilio Padilla,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
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In fact, the Second World War was a triumph of such mothballed leaders returning to active duty, lions such as Charles de Gaulle, Winston Churchill, George Patton, Douglas MacArthur and Bernard Montgomery being pressed into service.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The race for artificial intelligence supremacy has pitted Silicon Valley bigwigs against Washington policymakers and Chinese competitors.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
22 Jan. 2026
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The business of sports is on full display in Davos, Switzerland, where the World Economic Forum’s annual shindig for bigwigs kicked off earlier this week.—
Scott Soshnick,
Sportico.com,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Heavyweights.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heavyweights. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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