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
But, the movie suggests, he was perceived nonetheless—while sitting alone after a disastrous date—by one of the club’s most prominent members, Roy Cohn, who invites the clumsy young striver to his festive table and introduces him to two Mafia kingpins who are also seated there.
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Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2024
And with that, the plot to take the city is in motion: One need only stroke a few more egos, take a little more cruelty, then dish it all back out tenfold and reap a kingpin’s reward.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2024
The meat of the matter is the Penguin’s drive to become the city’s criminal kingpin, which involves a good bit of lying, betrayal, some murder and more cleverness than his enemies credit him with.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2024
The state’s inability to present an airtight case for Thug as kingpin says a RICO charge can demonize defendants by implicating them in bigger crimes than prosecutors are able to immediately prove, jamming up livelihoods and breaking up families.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for kingpin 
Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2024
And with that, the plot to take the city is in motion: One need only stroke a few more egos, take a little more cruelty, then dish it all back out tenfold and reap a kingpin’s reward.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2024
The meat of the matter is the Penguin’s drive to become the city’s criminal kingpin, which involves a good bit of lying, betrayal, some murder and more cleverness than his enemies credit him with.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2024
The state’s inability to present an airtight case for Thug as kingpin says a RICO charge can demonize defendants by implicating them in bigger crimes than prosecutors are able to immediately prove, jamming up livelihoods and breaking up families.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for kingpin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kingpin
Noun
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Defensively, his four interceptions rank tied for 17th nationally, three behind the leader, and 11 passes defended is tied for eighth-most.Ralph D. Russo, The Athletic, 10 Dec. 2024
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In his first address after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, the rebel leader addressed himself by his birth name, Ahmad Hussein al-Shara, instead of his nom de guerre.Siladitya Ray, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Pace is essentially the heavy of the movie, playing the brutal chief hunter for the network airing the game shows and tasked by the producer with tracking down Powell’s character.Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Oct. 2024
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His heavies answered the call, putting on an impressive blocking scheme that freed Franklin quite often.Chris Hays, Orlando Sentinel, 24 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Before approaching your boss, evaluate your contributions objectively: Consider your measurable impact on factors like revenue growth or cost savings.Danielle Chemtob, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
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In Jacques Audiard's cartel musical, Gomez plays Jessi, the wife to Karla Sofía Gascón's titular heroine, a trans woman who's trying to escape her violent past as a cartel boss.Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 12 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Shop the top 50 picks below and save big now before the sales end this week.Kelsey Fredricks, People.com, 4 Dec. 2024
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But there are also several bigs who will be unrestricted free agents, including Brionna Jones, Cheyenne Parker-Tyus, Brittney Griner, Nneka Ogwumike and Tina Charles who could start immediately.Ben Pickman, The Athletic, 25 Nov. 2024
Noun
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This sci-fi film takes viewers to a near future where our main character Nick (Michele Morrone), a construction foreman struggling to manage his family while his wife Maggie (Madeline Zima) battles a serious illness, turns to a subservient robot named Alice (played by Fox) for help.Travis Bean, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024
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Two years later, the trees were planted along the long driveway leading to John Woodbury’s future home, under the supervision of ranch foreman Tom Hoag, according to the Christmas Tree Lane Assn.’s official history.Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 5 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Ultimately, the pair separated after Callas began having an affair with Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis (Haluk Bilginer).Katie Mannion, People.com, 13 Dec. 2024
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But in typical Swift fashion, the pop superstar and music magnate didn’t release the book through any of the biggest publishing houses.CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 4 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The company also leveled up its wine program by partnering with master sommelier Andrea Robinson.Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 7 Dec. 2024
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There’s no master list of the year’s on-screen chemistry; but if there were, the trio of Martindale, Diamantopoulos, and Cyr would absolutely deserve a spot.Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 7 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Watch Christmas Inheritance on Netflix A California Christmas As the son of a wealthy San Francisco real estate tycoon, a young man named Joseph (Josh Swickard) has lived a fairly easy life.Kelsie Gibson, People.com, 7 Dec. 2024
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But its remote location limited its growth—something Egyptian property tycoon Samih Sawiris has worked to change.Gabriella Le Breton, Robb Report, 7 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Kingpin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kingpin. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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