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
As Mags, the Bennett clan matriarch and local criminal kingpin, Margo Martindale intimidated and surprised (to an Emmy-winning degree).
—
EW.com, 19 Feb. 2025
Peter Charalambous, and Kevin Shalvey 2:54 NurPhoto via Getty Images, FILE
The United States is preparing to return cybercrime kingpin Alexander Vinnik to Russian custody as part of an exchange for American Marc Fogel, a U.S. official said Wednesday.
—Katherine Faulders, ABC News, 12 Feb. 2025
The last season left off with Rue owing kingpins a couple of g’s without resolving that major story line.
—Zoe Guy, Vulture, 10 Feb. 2025
Colombia, of course, is notoriously known for the late murderous, horrific cocaine kingpin Escobar, although parts of the country are safer today.
—Norma Meyer, Orange County Register, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kingpin
EW.com, 19 Feb. 2025
Peter Charalambous, and Kevin Shalvey 2:54 NurPhoto via Getty Images, FILE
The United States is preparing to return cybercrime kingpin Alexander Vinnik to Russian custody as part of an exchange for American Marc Fogel, a U.S. official said Wednesday.
—Katherine Faulders, ABC News, 12 Feb. 2025
The last season left off with Rue owing kingpins a couple of g’s without resolving that major story line.
—Zoe Guy, Vulture, 10 Feb. 2025
Colombia, of course, is notoriously known for the late murderous, horrific cocaine kingpin Escobar, although parts of the country are safer today.
—Norma Meyer, Orange County Register, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kingpin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kingpin
Noun
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The Ukrainian leader has blamed Russia for the slow progress of talks, a sentiment echoed by his European backers.—
Jason D. Greenblatt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Apr. 2025
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Outback Presents, North America’s leading independent, full-service promoter of live entertainment, has expanded its Board of Directors to include several prominent industry leaders.—
Katcy Stephan,
Variety,
2 Apr. 2025
Noun
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And if nothing else, there’s always the heavies to fall back on.—
Sean T. Collins,
Vulture,
27 Mar. 2025
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They’re supposed to be the reinforcements, the heavies, personally recruited by Quinn — a fugitive Army Intelligence Colonel! — and installed at Beck’s place, just like Paulie.—
Chris Klimek,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Xander is now her boss again in a different iteration ...—
Emily Blackwood,
People.com,
5 Apr. 2025
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There are some optional bosses too, the Wither and the Warden.—
Issy van der Velde,
Rolling Stone,
5 Apr. 2025
Noun
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This game features three of the best bigs in college basketball, two of whom — Johni Broome and Danny Wolf — could be first-round picks in the 2025 NBA Draft.—
Tobias Bass,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
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Michigan boasts two excellent bigs in Vlad Goldin and Danny Wolf.—
Ron Estes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Statham’s responsibility here is to make the Royal Marines veteran turned Chicago construction foreman look experienced enough to do serious damage, without directly repeating the dozen other movies in which he’s done so already.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
26 Mar. 2025
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The patient on the table is the Yellowstone ranch foreman, who only finds himself in this vulnerable position in the first place because powerful men want his boss’s land.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
16 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The tech magnate’s swipe at Navarro comes after a report that indicated Trump told his inner circle that Musk will be stepping back from his role in the government in the coming weeks.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Apr. 2025
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From cable television magnates to fashion moguls to casino bosses, these billionaires have passed away since the 2024 Forbes list.—
Roy Canivel,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
Noun
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But the ability to navigate this uncertainty depends on high-quality, accurate data—particularly supplier master data—which is easier said than done.—
Sarah Jones,
Sourcing Journal,
10 Apr. 2025
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According to a press statement from the HBCU, graduates from the university’s 14 schools and colleges this year will be among the largest graduating classes in the institution’s history to receive bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in various disciplines.—
DeMicia Inman,
VIBE.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
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As stocks tanked following news of President Trump’s new tariffs, Mexican telecom tycoon Carlos Slim Helu got billions richer.—
Gigi Zamora,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
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Robert Bass Robert Bass is a nephew of oil tycoon Sid Richardson and inherited $2.8 million after his uncle’s death in 1959.—
Ella Gonzales,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Kingpin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kingpin. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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