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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 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
-
As stocks tanked following news of President Trump’s new tariffs, Mexican telecom tycoon Carlos Slim Helu got billions richer.—
Gigi Zamora,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
-
Robert Bass Robert Bass is a nephew of oil tycoon Sid Richardson and inherited $2.8 million after his uncle’s death in 1959.—
Ella Gonzales,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
In the early 1980s, Chamberlain gained a reputation as the king of the miniseries for his starring roles in Shogun, The Thorn Birds and Wallenberg: A Hero’s Story.—
Paul Grein,
Billboard,
30 Mar. 2025
-
The people of Israel welcome Jesus as king while his disciples anticipate his crowning.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
30 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Metro Sports Committee members even made a point to hand-deliver the city’s bid, individually, to each NCAA bigwig.—
Sean Keeler,
The Denver Post,
16 Mar. 2025
-
The group represents some of the biggest companies in finance, real estate and management, with an executive committee that includes Wall Street bigwigs like Jamie Dimon, Blair Effron, Jane Fraser, Henry Kravis, Larry Fink and David Solomon.—
Andrew Ross Sorkin,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pooh-bah.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pooh-bah. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share