as in heavyweight
one of high position or importance within a group
thinks he's a big cheese just because he's got a business card
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Recent Examples of big cheese
But a big cheese board affords the chance for people to try something new.
—
Betty Hallock, Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec. 2024
Simply Cheetos White Cheddar Puffs These light-colored curls have big cheese flavor, a satisfying crunch and a tart kick that is dangerously delicious.
—Jolene Thym, The Mercury News, 4 June 2024
So for decades only accredited scholars, the occasional journalist and big cheeses got to see inside.
—Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2023
Following a voting process, this international cut of designers aged under 40 will be whittled down to a final few before the winners are selected by a panel of the conglomerate’s key designers and c-suite big cheeses some time in the summer.
—Luke Leitch, Vogue, 2 Mar. 2023
All is fair in love and big cheese.
—Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 2 Feb. 2023
Bob Iger is back as the House of Mouse’s big cheese.
—Jacob Carpenter, Fortune, 21 Nov. 2022
Una Pizza Napoletana is truly the big cheese: Anthony Mangieri’s Lower East Side pizza joint was just named the best pizzeria in the United States by the 50 Top Pizza organization.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 16 June 2022
Betty Hallock, Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec. 2024
Simply Cheetos White Cheddar Puffs These light-colored curls have big cheese flavor, a satisfying crunch and a tart kick that is dangerously delicious.
—Jolene Thym, The Mercury News, 4 June 2024
So for decades only accredited scholars, the occasional journalist and big cheeses got to see inside.
—Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2023
Following a voting process, this international cut of designers aged under 40 will be whittled down to a final few before the winners are selected by a panel of the conglomerate’s key designers and c-suite big cheeses some time in the summer.
—Luke Leitch, Vogue, 2 Mar. 2023
All is fair in love and big cheese.
—Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 2 Feb. 2023
Bob Iger is back as the House of Mouse’s big cheese.
—Jacob Carpenter, Fortune, 21 Nov. 2022
Una Pizza Napoletana is truly the big cheese: Anthony Mangieri’s Lower East Side pizza joint was just named the best pizzeria in the United States by the 50 Top Pizza organization.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 16 June 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for big cheese
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
The Nuggets don’t need Jokic to play the heavy in the locker room.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
25 Mar. 2026
-
How the Script Walks a Tonal Tightrope Radcliffe credited playwrights Macmillan and Donahoe with building a structure that lets the performer pivot rapidly between the heavy and the silly.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Bruins coach Marco Sturm made some pretty sizable line changes to start the game, plugging in rookie center Minten between David Pastrnak and Morgan Geekie to try and coax more production out of his big guns.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
14 Mar. 2026
-
The team needs that supporting cast clicking at the same time as big guns to create more sustained pressure.—
Dom Luszczyszyn,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Will the Niners spend like big boys and sign Hendrickson, Linderbaum and JFM?—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Only little boys are called big boys.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
More Coloradans are seeing the big wheel spin in their favor each year.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Denver Post,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The cars that Geely showcased at CES, in Las Vegas, were large SUVs with big wheels, opulent interiors, and three rows of seats—not unlike a Ford Explorer.—
Patrick George,
The Atlantic,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
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That was a gift from former Indy ball teammate and ex-big leaguer Matt Adams.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Around him was not a single big leaguer, minor leaguer, or anyone with a heater topping 90 miles per hour.—
Sam Blum,
New York Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Cohen is a star baseball player for Windward and Fullmer plays football for Harvard-Westlake and is the son of former major leaguer Brad Fullmer, one of the best players ever out of Montclair Prep.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Jan. 2026
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Former Yankees pitcher and the oldest living major leaguer Art Schallock died at age 100 on March 6.—
Brendan Le,
PEOPLE,
5 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Big cheese.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/big%20cheese. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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