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
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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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Recent Examples of kingpin
Reeling from his mother’s newly persistent vegetative state and how Sofia exposed his Achilles’ heel through her, Oz decides that family of any kind is only going to hold him back from achieving true kingpin status.
—
Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2025
Silas Merritt Robertson, brother of O.G. Duck Dynasty kingpin Phil Robertson, who died on May 25 at 79, and Phil's son Willie Robertson, who's been CEO of the Duck Commander company behind the reality empire since 2002.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 2 June 2025
Leading business figures also regularly attend, including the likes of John Browne, the former chief executive of BP; Martin Sorrell, the advertising kingpin and Nigel Wilson, the former chief executive of Legal & General.
—Ian King, CNBC, 22 May 2025
The 38-page presentation contained photos of at-large Tren de Aragua kingpins and some of the clock, train and star tattoos authorities believed reveal TdA allegiance.
—Rick Jervis, USA Today, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for kingpin
Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2025
Silas Merritt Robertson, brother of O.G. Duck Dynasty kingpin Phil Robertson, who died on May 25 at 79, and Phil's son Willie Robertson, who's been CEO of the Duck Commander company behind the reality empire since 2002.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 2 June 2025
Leading business figures also regularly attend, including the likes of John Browne, the former chief executive of BP; Martin Sorrell, the advertising kingpin and Nigel Wilson, the former chief executive of Legal & General.
—Ian King, CNBC, 22 May 2025
The 38-page presentation contained photos of at-large Tren de Aragua kingpins and some of the clock, train and star tattoos authorities believed reveal TdA allegiance.
—Rick Jervis, USA Today, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for kingpin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kingpin
Noun
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Finally, leading up, your leaders need to start with the understanding that the ego has to stay outside the door.—
Barbara Puszkiewicz-Cimino,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2025
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In fact, high-profile investors and business leaders in the Big Apple are up in arms about the stunning win by the democratic socialist in the primary to win the Democratic nomination to serve as the next New York City mayor.—
Sean Conlon,
CNBC,
25 June 2025
Noun
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Class struggle is reflected in the way that the back-alley heavy, Atticus Hawk, dismisses the ivory-tower eccentricity of the occult specialist Scholar Vitali.—
The New York Times,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
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Gabriel Byrne’s new heavy, the Chancellor, hisses to Castañeda’s doomed daddy as Eve watches in horror.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
5 June 2025
Noun
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Leverkusen have appointed former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag as their new head coach.—
David Ornstein,
New York Times,
16 June 2025
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That move had gone down badly with a number of investors, unlike today’s announcement which could soon see Gucci and other Kering brands under the stewardship of a boss who drove Renault back to the top.—
Mark Faithfull,
Forbes.com,
16 June 2025
Noun
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And in Miami, Bam Adebayo continues to thrive as a hybrid big who can score, pass, and switch.—
Sindiswa Mabunda,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2025
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While there’s a deep well of high-end guard prospects, the bigs have a smaller list and could produce Maluach and Queen as the lone lottery picks.—
Aaron Beard,
Chicago Tribune,
23 June 2025
Noun
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The judge also said the remaining jurors did not describe anything like the discord and threats recounted by the foreman.—
Aaron Katersky,
ABC News,
12 June 2025
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Amid all that drama, the judge rejected the foreman’s efforts to exit the case and denied a defense motion to get a mistrial declared.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
12 June 2025
Noun
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Shuna later passed through the hands of film and shipping magnates before becoming the romantic escape of the Viscountess Selby and WWII Pathfinder Donald Wells.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
20 June 2025
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The other involves keeping a magnate’s daughter from being kidnapped.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
4 June 2025
Noun
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The Skokie native works at Google and recently graduated from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management with a master’s degree in business administration, according to her campaign.—
Olivia Olander,
Chicago Tribune,
24 June 2025
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Twelve percent have master’s degrees or higher, compared with 14% nationally.—
Jeff A. Chamer,
Charlotte Observer,
24 June 2025
Noun
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With a net worth of $22.7 billion based on a Pop Mart stake, the 38-year-old is the youngest member of the country’s top echelon of tycoons, which includes ByteDance founder Zhang Yiming, Nongfu Spring Chairman Zhong Shanshan and Tencent cofounder Ma Huateng.—
Yue Wang,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2025
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The bizarre political bromance between the most powerful man on Earth and the wealthiest tycoon in the world appeared to be over Thursday as President Trump and Elon Musk traded barbs in the wake of the Tesla mogul’s harsh criticism of his signature Big Beautiful Bill.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
5 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Kingpin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kingpin. Accessed 29 Jun. 2025.
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