variants
also poo-bah
as in heavyweight
one of high position or importance within a group
an annual clambake that attracts political pooh-bahs from around the state
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Recent Examples of pooh-bah
This kind of surgical enhancement can still be frowned upon in the restoration world, decried as fakery by the pooh-bahs of all-original-everything.
—
Lawrence Ulrich, Robb Report, 13 July 2024
To Richardson-Merrell’s pooh-bahs, her scrutiny seemed like the dilatory work of someone who didn’t know how the game was played.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harper's Magazine, 30 Mar. 2024
Like Joe Rogan, the carnivorous pooh-bah of this intellectual space, Brand appeared interested in teaching a certain kind of man how to be a certain kind of man, mining the tension between think-for-yourself riffs and listen-to-me conclusions.
—Matt Flegenheimer, New York Times, 13 Nov. 2023
But the pooh-bahs in Brussels didn’t exactly rush to say yes.
—Tunku Varadarajan, WSJ, 25 Oct. 2023
Lawrence Ulrich, Robb Report, 13 July 2024
To Richardson-Merrell’s pooh-bahs, her scrutiny seemed like the dilatory work of someone who didn’t know how the game was played.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harper's Magazine, 30 Mar. 2024
Like Joe Rogan, the carnivorous pooh-bah of this intellectual space, Brand appeared interested in teaching a certain kind of man how to be a certain kind of man, mining the tension between think-for-yourself riffs and listen-to-me conclusions.
—Matt Flegenheimer, New York Times, 13 Nov. 2023
But the pooh-bahs in Brussels didn’t exactly rush to say yes.
—Tunku Varadarajan, WSJ, 25 Oct. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pooh-bah
Noun
-
DeGeneres flipped another Montecito property—a five-bedroom, 10-bathroom compound—in February of last year to mining magnate Robert Friedland for $32 million.—
India Roby and Katie Schultz,
Architectural Digest,
27 Mar. 2025
-
The maid at Bizarre Bazaar magnate Zachary Beck’s estate?—
Matt Webb Mitovich,
TVLine,
13 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The two are highly respected and influential tycoons.—
Seema Mody,
CNBC,
20 Mar. 2025
-
That four-acre spread was snapped up by casino tycoon Steve Wynn, but a nearby residence hoisted onto the market as a turnkey opportunity at $45 million affords equally breathtaking vistas of Aspen Mountain and Independence Pass for less than half the cost.—
Demetrius Simms,
Robb Report,
5 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Marlene Daut’s deep dive into Haiti’s first — and only — king reads like a historical novel of a bygone era with Black princes and knights, an elaborate dress code and a palace, Sans-Souci, to match.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
20 Mar. 2025
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It’s also made this former video-store clerk the king of all content.—
Ramin Setoodeh,
Variety,
19 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The largest is the Ratliff family, North Carolina blue bloods led by Timothy (Jason Isaacs), a business bigwig with no interest in any of the resort’s spiritual healing exercises.—
Noel Murray,
New York Times,
17 Feb. 2025
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Here’s a look at the rock stars, politicians and business bigwigs who are neighbors of the 45th—and 47th—president.—
Chase Peterson-Withorn,
Forbes,
19 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pooh-bah.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pooh-bah. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
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