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
Cambodia passed unprecedented legislation Monday imposing life imprisonment for scam kingpins as the nation vows to eliminate cyber fraud operations by month’s end.
—
Sopheng Cheang, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
Colombian authorities, with the assistance of the United States, killed drug kingpin Pablo Escobar in 1993.
—Abigail R. Hall, Oc Register, 30 Mar. 2026
In a few short years, Prager had carved out an expansive life as a Caribbean kingpin, transforming the ramshackle smuggling operation into a sophisticated, multicrew organization that moved tens of thousands of pounds of pot.
—Jack Crosbie, Rolling Stone, 17 Mar. 2026
Birdville aims to take down 5A kingpin With just about 10 seconds left in a Class 5A Division I regional final, Birdville’s Avery Webb stepped back for what could be the highest stakes shot of the UIL Texas high school basketball season.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for kingpin
Sopheng Cheang, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
Colombian authorities, with the assistance of the United States, killed drug kingpin Pablo Escobar in 1993.
—Abigail R. Hall, Oc Register, 30 Mar. 2026
In a few short years, Prager had carved out an expansive life as a Caribbean kingpin, transforming the ramshackle smuggling operation into a sophisticated, multicrew organization that moved tens of thousands of pounds of pot.
—Jack Crosbie, Rolling Stone, 17 Mar. 2026
Birdville aims to take down 5A kingpin With just about 10 seconds left in a Class 5A Division I regional final, Birdville’s Avery Webb stepped back for what could be the highest stakes shot of the UIL Texas high school basketball season.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for kingpin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kingpin
Noun
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Hong Kong/Islamabad — As the war in the Gulf careens into its second month, dragging down the global economy with no off-ramp in sight, questions are deepening around what role China – a global heavyweight and diplomatic partner to Iran – is willing to play.—
Sophia Saifi,
CNN Money,
1 Apr. 2026
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The hospitality heavyweight, which has branched out beyond luxury trains and into yachts and hotels, just opened a second property in Italy.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The protest, organized by national anti-death penalty organizations Death Penalty Action and Worth Rise, was attended mostly by local faith leaders and members.—
Sally Krutzig,
Idaho Statesman,
1 Apr. 2026
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Thousands of people are calling on Charlotte leaders to stop a data center from setting up shop southeast of Reedy Creek Nature Preserve.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Some might consider the AirPods Max heavy (a common complaint about the originals).—
Eric Zeman,
PC Magazine,
31 Mar. 2026
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The Nuggets don’t need Jokic to play the heavy in the locker room.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The lawsuit noted that Fox News bosses criticized the network’s journalists for not considering the feelings of its pro-Trump audience following the election that sent Joe Biden to the White House.—
Stephen Battaglio,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2026
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Being the owner of something and being the boss of something obviously come with a lot of responsibility.—
Datwon Thomas,
VIBE.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In footage of their other games, like against Iowa in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals, forwards also will play almost parallel to a team's bigs to eliminate any feeds into the paint.—
Zoe Collins Rath,
Austin American Statesman,
30 Mar. 2026
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The bigs asked the guards to fight over screens harder so they wouldn’t be caught out of position.—
Sabreena Merchant,
New York Times,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Nusku encouraged his fellow Igigi to rebel by setting fire to their tools and surrounding the house of Ellil, an Anunnaki leader and their foreman.—
Shanti Escalante-De Mattei,
ARTnews.com,
6 Apr. 2026
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On July 2, A ranch foreman checking on sheep finds strange debris spread over a prairie near Roswell, New Mexico.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Gaston was a strict parent for an aspiring magnate.—
Simon Akam,
Vanity Fair,
2 Apr. 2026
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As previously reported, Fred Armisen will play a major role in Season 2 as casino magnate Max Sugar.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Great science-fiction writers, almost by definition, are masters of cognitive estrangement.—
Stephanie Burt,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
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Insider experiences include a tour of a private palazzo by a prince no less, a painting class inspired by Caravaggio, and a master class in mixing the perfect aperitivo by resident masters.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kingpin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kingpin. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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