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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of kingpin
Ridley Scott directs Brian Tyree Henry and Wagner Moura in the first episode of a tale in which two small-fry thieves rob a drug den and become the target of a relentless kingpin.
—
Shauna Lyon, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2025
Mexican drug kingpin wanted in killing of DEA agent captured
The criminal ringleader was once again detained in Mexico in 2022, nearly 10 years after his release.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 28 Feb. 2025
The drug kingpin was convicted for running an industrial-scale drug smuggling operation and is serving his sentence at a maximum security prison in Florence, Colorado.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 18 Feb. 2025
Emilia Pérez, a Netflix musical-thriller about a Mexican drug kingpin transitioning into a woman, led the 2025 Oscar nominations tally on Jan. 23 with 13 nods, including Best Picture.
—Tommy McArdle, People.com, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kingpin
Shauna Lyon, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2025
Mexican drug kingpin wanted in killing of DEA agent captured
The criminal ringleader was once again detained in Mexico in 2022, nearly 10 years after his release.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 28 Feb. 2025
The drug kingpin was convicted for running an industrial-scale drug smuggling operation and is serving his sentence at a maximum security prison in Florence, Colorado.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 18 Feb. 2025
Emilia Pérez, a Netflix musical-thriller about a Mexican drug kingpin transitioning into a woman, led the 2025 Oscar nominations tally on Jan. 23 with 13 nods, including Best Picture.
—Tommy McArdle, People.com, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kingpin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kingpin
Noun
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The subpoenas requested the two union leaders produce documents by Feb. 20 that include any communication — emails, texts messages, Signal messages, WhatsApp messages or any other electronic messages — sent to or received from board members and Gates and Potter.—
Nell Salzman,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Feb. 2025
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The north London side’s 1-0 home defeat to West Ham United on Saturday alongside Liverpool’s 2-0 victory at Manchester City the following day increased the gap between Arsenal and the league leaders to 11 points, although Arsenal have played one game fewer.—
James McNicholas,
The Athletic,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The other students find the burden of imperfect English heavy.—
Jesse Green,
New York Times,
24 Jan. 2025
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Another Hollywood heavy was Marlon Brando, who gave Jackson acting advice.—
Jordan Runtagh,
People.com,
4 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Since Glossip’s 1998 conviction as the alleged orchestrator of a murder-for-hire scheme targeting his boss, Oklahoma City motel owner Barry Van Treese, a raft of issues with his prosecution has surfaced, coinciding with a shift of political winds now at the inmate’s back.—
Dakin Andone,
CNN,
28 Feb. 2025
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Before assuming your boss secretly hates you, take a step back.—
Adunola Adeshola,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Amid the Houston Rockets’ 48-point first quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves over the weekend, the return of Jabari Smith Jr. — and more importantly, Ime Udoka’s utilization of the third-year big — was a reminder of his value.—
Kelly Iko,
The Athletic,
25 Feb. 2025
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So, right now, everybody could use this big of a blast.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
24 Feb. 2025
Noun
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By Wednesday evening, the jury’s foreman was having an Old Style and a cigarette in front of his Beverly home, snowflakes piling up on his head and in his mustache.—
Ray Long,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2025
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Well, the foreman thought there was some life left and administered a dose of la grippe medicine.—
Contributed Content,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
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FedEx is suing Donald Trump-supporting pillow magnate Mike Lindell for nearly $9 million in unpaid delivery fees.—
Russel Honoré,
Newsweek,
5 Mar. 2025
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The project soon attached Ed Harris to play James, a celebrated actor but failed property magnate.—
Diana Lodderhose,
Deadline,
3 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Every master craftsman had their own tools – often specialized and always prized possessions handed down from generation to generation.—
John Sviokla,
Forbes,
8 Mar. 2025
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These successes led to her being awarded master board member status from the Illinois Association of Park Districts.—
Naperville Sun,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Billionaire business tycoon Elon Musk suggested that the International Space Station should be scrapped sooner rather than later.—
Alex Nitzberg,
Fox News,
21 Feb. 2025
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Washington today echoes with so many uncomfortable reminders of that transitional moment in Moscow—the sudden, fearful silence of critics who had previously spoken out, the business tycoons rushing to kiss the President’s ring, the lying and reality distortions to fit the official narrative.—
Susan B. Glasser,
The New Yorker,
20 Feb. 2025
Articles Related to kingpin
Cite this Entry
“Kingpin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kingpin. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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