ringleader
noun
ring·lead·er
ˈriŋ-ˌlē-dər 
: a leader of a ring of individuals engaged especially in improper or unlawful activities
Examples of ringleader in a Sentence
the ringleader of a gang of criminals
Recent Examples on the Web
The ringleader of the malevolent mob died Jan. 11, 2018, in the Mississippi State Penitentiary.
—
Michael S. Williamson, Washington Post, 17 June 2024
Losing Charm The populist ringleader of a short squeeze that shook Wall Street in the original 2021 meme-stock rally, Gill is losing his folksy charm, at least for some followers.
—Prarthana Prakash, Fortune, 15 June 2024
Dwayne Montgomery, an ex-NYPD inspector, Adams friend and alleged ringleader of the straw donor scheme prosecuted by Bragg, pleaded guilty to his role in February.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 18 Apr. 2024
By targeting Putin’s pressure points and aiming to inflict painful defeats on Russia in the Black Sea or in Crimea, Ukraine is hoping to galvanize public sentiment in Russia against the war and its ringleader.
—Norbert Röttgen, Foreign Affairs, 22 Dec. 2023
See all Example Sentences for ringleader 
Michael S. Williamson, Washington Post, 17 June 2024
Losing Charm The populist ringleader of a short squeeze that shook Wall Street in the original 2021 meme-stock rally, Gill is losing his folksy charm, at least for some followers.
—Prarthana Prakash, Fortune, 15 June 2024
Dwayne Montgomery, an ex-NYPD inspector, Adams friend and alleged ringleader of the straw donor scheme prosecuted by Bragg, pleaded guilty to his role in February.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 18 Apr. 2024
By targeting Putin’s pressure points and aiming to inflict painful defeats on Russia in the Black Sea or in Crimea, Ukraine is hoping to galvanize public sentiment in Russia against the war and its ringleader.
—Norbert Röttgen, Foreign Affairs, 22 Dec. 2023
See all Example Sentences for ringleader
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ringleader.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near ringleader
Cite this Entry
“Ringleader.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ringleader. Accessed 29 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ringleader
noun
ring·lead·er
ˈriŋ-ˌlēd-ər
: a leader especially of a group of persons who cause trouble
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