1
as in heavyweight
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in leader
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of kingpin
But Mike's past seems to catch up to him as a kingpin cartel widow, Isabel (Kate del Castillo), and her son Armando (Jacob Scipio) begin targeting people tied to her husband's downfall, including Mike.
—
Rendy Jones, EW.com, 7 Apr. 2025
An unlikely friendship is forged as the two fugitives attempt to outrun a violent kingpin — and their pasts.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 1 Apr. 2025
The legacy of heroin kingpin Frank Lucas, whose story was dramatized in the 2007 narrative feature American Gangster, is the focus of a forthcoming documentary film.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 31 Mar. 2025
In the bidding process, these kingpins are called anchors.
—Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kingpin
Rendy Jones, EW.com, 7 Apr. 2025
An unlikely friendship is forged as the two fugitives attempt to outrun a violent kingpin — and their pasts.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 1 Apr. 2025
The legacy of heroin kingpin Frank Lucas, whose story was dramatized in the 2007 narrative feature American Gangster, is the focus of a forthcoming documentary film.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 31 Mar. 2025
In the bidding process, these kingpins are called anchors.
—Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kingpin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kingpin
Noun
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Other world leaders in attendance included include UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Britain's Prince William, U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres, French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2025
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Taking to his social media platform, Truth Social, on Thursday, April 24, Trump called out Russia’s leader over a deadly attack on Kyiv, Ukraine.—
Olivia-Anne Cleary,
Time,
26 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Harry heads back to the yard, where a group of Kevin's Czechoslovakian hired heavies are preparing for war.—
Matt Cabral,
EW.com,
13 Apr. 2025
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On Twin Peaks, Strong plays Jones, the right-hand woman for one of the series’ heavies.—
Drew Mackie,
People.com,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
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There is no doubt that Müller gave everything, but in retrospect, the Bayern boss will have to answer the uncomfortable question of whether starting the 2014 World Cup winner was the right choice in the first place.—
Manuel Veth,
Forbes.com,
17 Apr. 2025
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For some reason, my boss has never questioned me or been suspicious of anything.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The Pistons have used a combination of wings (Tobias Harris, Malik Beasley, Tim Hardaway Jr.) and bigs (Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart, who sat Game 2 due to injury) to show Towns different looks on the defensive end.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
22 Apr. 2025
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After officials told Green to lay off the physicality – and the veteran big vociferously argued – the two went right back to jostling.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
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One, the foreman, is a gentleman who was born in the Dominican Republic and came to NYC in 1996.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
22 Apr. 2025
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Ben Ross had originally worked as a timber foreman under his enslaver, Anthony Thompson, a wealthy landowner in the county.—
Ella Jeffries,
Smithsonian Magazine,
14 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Around the same time, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, a real estate magnate who has been heavily involved in the negotiations with Russia, mused about the possibilities for U.S.-Russian collaboration in an interview with the commentator Tucker Carlson.—
Stacie E. Goddard,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
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Zuckerberg, who was recently revealed as the buyer of a $23 million mansion with a 10-minute commute to the White House, is but the latest of the Silicon Valley magnates flocking to the area’s high-end homes, making ripples in the luxury real estate market as well as in politics.—
Katie Schultz,
Architectural Digest,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Serendipitously, that car was owned by Disney master animator Ward Kimball, whom Gurr had met via a car enthusiast society, the Horseless Carriage Club.—
Todd Martens,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2025
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Select one platform and master it rather than spreading yourself too thin.—
Vicky Owens,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Sue Ellen, who was married to philandering oil tycoon J.R.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
26 Apr. 2025
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In episode 8 of season 1, oil tycoon Monty Miller (Jon Hamm) suffers a heart attack and is seen recovering in the hospital.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Kingpin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kingpin. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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