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
The reason why a small army of goons has suddenly reappeared in his life is Rose (Ariana DeBose, another Oscar winner), a former mob lawyer who worked for Marvin’s kingpin brother, Alvin a.k.a.
—
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2025
Smith’s attorneys worked out a deal in which the former Liberty City drug kingpin agreed to a 30-year sentence and pleaded guilty to several counts of second-degree murder and manslaughter for the deaths of Angel Wilson, Cynthia Brown, Leon Hadley and Jackie Pope in the 1990s.
—Charles Rabin, Miami Herald, 6 Feb. 2025
Beyond military operations, the U.S. sought to weaken FARC's financial networks by targeting its leaders as drug kingpins, pursuing extraditions on narcotics charges for both top leaders and mid-level operatives.
—John Yoo and John Shu, Newsweek, 23 Jan. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for kingpin
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2025
Smith’s attorneys worked out a deal in which the former Liberty City drug kingpin agreed to a 30-year sentence and pleaded guilty to several counts of second-degree murder and manslaughter for the deaths of Angel Wilson, Cynthia Brown, Leon Hadley and Jackie Pope in the 1990s.
—Charles Rabin, Miami Herald, 6 Feb. 2025
Beyond military operations, the U.S. sought to weaken FARC's financial networks by targeting its leaders as drug kingpins, pursuing extraditions on narcotics charges for both top leaders and mid-level operatives.
—John Yoo and John Shu, Newsweek, 23 Jan. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for kingpin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kingpin
Noun
-
The subpoenas requested the two union leaders produce documents by Feb. 20 that include any communication — emails, texts messages, Signal messages, WhatsApp messages or any other electronic messages — sent to or received from board members and Gates and Potter.—
Nell Salzman,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Feb. 2025
-
The north London side’s 1-0 home defeat to West Ham United on Saturday alongside Liverpool’s 2-0 victory at Manchester City the following day increased the gap between Arsenal and the league leaders to 11 points, although Arsenal have played one game fewer.—
James McNicholas,
The Athletic,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The other students find the burden of imperfect English heavy.—
Jesse Green,
New York Times,
24 Jan. 2025
-
Another Hollywood heavy was Marlon Brando, who gave Jackson acting advice.—
Jordan Runtagh,
People.com,
4 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Since Glossip’s 1998 conviction as the alleged orchestrator of a murder-for-hire scheme targeting his boss, Oklahoma City motel owner Barry Van Treese, a raft of issues with his prosecution has surfaced, coinciding with a shift of political winds now at the inmate’s back.—
Dakin Andone,
CNN,
28 Feb. 2025
-
Ford’s shrewd boss, Robert McNamara, was ready to kill the nameplate altogether, facing another homely redesign approved for 1961.—
Raphael Orlove,
Robb Report,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Amid the Houston Rockets’ 48-point first quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves over the weekend, the return of Jabari Smith Jr. — and more importantly, Ime Udoka’s utilization of the third-year big — was a reminder of his value.—
Kelly Iko,
The Athletic,
25 Feb. 2025
-
So, right now, everybody could use this big of a blast.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
24 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
By Wednesday evening, the jury’s foreman was having an Old Style and a cigarette in front of his Beverly home, snowflakes piling up on his head and in his mustache.—
Ray Long,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2025
-
Well, the foreman thought there was some life left and administered a dose of la grippe medicine.—
Contributed Content,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The Residences at Sloan’s Curve is immediately south of casino-and-resort magnate Steve Wynn’s estate.—
Darrell Hofheinz,
USA TODAY,
15 Feb. 2025
-
Last month, a Brooklyn real estate magnate connected to Turkish officials admitted to orchestrating straw donations towards Adams’ mayoral campaign in a plea deal believed to require his cooperation at trial.—
Chris Sommerfeldt,
New York Daily News,
11 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Born in New York City, Bongino has a master’s degree in Psychology from Queens College and a master’s in Business Administration from Pennsylvania State University.—
Julia Gomez,
USA TODAY,
24 Feb. 2025
-
Many scientists have a master’s degree in geography or a related field. 8.—
Julia Korn,
Forbes,
24 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Billionaire business tycoon Elon Musk suggested that the International Space Station should be scrapped sooner rather than later.—
Alex Nitzberg,
Fox News,
21 Feb. 2025
-
Washington today echoes with so many uncomfortable reminders of that transitional moment in Moscow—the sudden, fearful silence of critics who had previously spoken out, the business tycoons rushing to kiss the President’s ring, the lying and reality distortions to fit the official narrative.—
Susan B. Glasser,
The New Yorker,
20 Feb. 2025
Articles Related to kingpin
Cite this Entry
“Kingpin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kingpin. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share