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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of kingpin
McMahon must reimburse his former company $1.3 million and pay a $400,000 civil penalty stemming from the government’s investigation into the wrestling kingpin.
—
Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 10 Jan. 2025
Lori Harvey, the stepdaughter of comedy kingpin Steve Harvey, is ratcheting up her sexpot status with her next gig as a Playboy cover model.
—Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 24 Jan. 2025
De Niro stars in a double role as both mob bosses Vito Genovese and Frank Costello, real-life kingpins of New York’s Genovese crime family.
—Sophia Scorziello, Variety, 14 Jan. 2025
In a Hollywood Reporter cover story on Saturday, Gascón shared that in the original script she was given, Emilia Pérez’s cartel kingpin protagonist initially transitioned primarily as a disguise to evade the authorities, only to later grow into her newfound identity.
—Abby Monteil, Them, 13 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for kingpin 
Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 10 Jan. 2025
Lori Harvey, the stepdaughter of comedy kingpin Steve Harvey, is ratcheting up her sexpot status with her next gig as a Playboy cover model.
—Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 24 Jan. 2025
De Niro stars in a double role as both mob bosses Vito Genovese and Frank Costello, real-life kingpins of New York’s Genovese crime family.
—Sophia Scorziello, Variety, 14 Jan. 2025
In a Hollywood Reporter cover story on Saturday, Gascón shared that in the original script she was given, Emilia Pérez’s cartel kingpin protagonist initially transitioned primarily as a disguise to evade the authorities, only to later grow into her newfound identity.
—Abby Monteil, Them, 13 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for kingpin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kingpin
Noun
-
There is a general sense of unease among industry insiders about what’s to come, the speed with which Trump has enacted sweeping executive orders across the federal government — and the seeming buy-in from corporate leaders — and how that all could influence future creative content.—
Samantha Masunaga,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2025
-
In recent months, Turkey has hosted high-level visitors from EU countries, and France's Emmanuel Macron recently invited Syria's new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, an Islamist, for a state visit.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
11 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Another Hollywood heavy was Marlon Brando, who gave Jackson acting advice.—
Jordan Runtagh,
People.com,
4 Jan. 2025
-
Late one night, the heavies from the local don throw a few bricks through the window of an honest shopkeeper.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
5 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Baseball ops boss David Stearns constructed a team of players that appear to have the character the Mets are looking for, something Lindor views as a potential strength of the 2025 squad.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
15 Feb. 2025
-
On top of that, Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy and co. are no longer bound by Disney’s pre-2019 mandate of releasing a new Star Wars movie every year.—
Brian Davids,
The Hollywood Reporter,
14 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Minnesota countered with only two bigs in Dawson Garcia (6-11) and Parker Fox (6-8).—
Andy Greder,
Twin Cities,
9 Feb. 2025
-
In its broadest scope, the Wizards’ decision over the summer to sign Valančiūnas provided some instant offense, some defensive rebounding and some cover for Sarr to avoid getting shoved around by some of the league’s most physical bigs.—
The Athletic NBA Staff,
The Athletic,
5 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
More than $150,000 in counterfeit bags were seized and nine ringleaders and factory foreman were imprisoned in connection with the case.—
Lisa Lockwood,
WWD,
4 Feb. 2025
-
In this Gallic take on Steven Knight’s acclaimed 2013 drama Locke, Lindon is Joseph Cross, a construction foreman who supervises concrete pours.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
30 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Aga Khan's Legacy The Aga Khan was not only a religious figure but also evolved into a business magnate and philanthropist over the decades.—
Anders Fogh Rasmussen,
Newsweek,
5 Feb. 2025
-
All the while, Musk, the billionaire tech magnate who has never been elected to office or confirmed by the Senate for a high-level government job, is pushing a far-reaching agenda.—
Elizabeth Robinson,
NBC News,
4 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Also, to have that sort of co-sign and support from someone who is the master of the genre, the creator of the era, was a really nice feeling.—
Lily Moayeri,
SPIN,
10 Feb. 2025
-
Manfred was a master of design, and his suiting options still stand out today.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
9 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
At Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club in November, the tycoon met with Argentine President Javier Milei, a libertarian whom Musk has praised repeatedly.—
John Hyatt,
Forbes,
14 Feb. 2025
-
The globe-trotting tycoon was accused of tanking what was then one of the largest newspaper companies in the world.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2025
Articles Related to kingpin
Thesaurus Entries Near kingpin
Cite this Entry
“Kingpin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kingpin. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share