top dog
noun
: a person, group, or thing in a position of authority especially through victory in a hard-fought competition
Examples of top dog in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Mike McLusky may be top dog but power can only be maintained by continuing to instill fear in his enemies.
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Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
Your final choice of a top dog and a top cat will be featured in a Miami Herald story.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
The Toronto Maple Leafs, usually the town’s top dog, showed baseball on the big screen after their home opener; the Leafs will also shift the start time of their Canadian Thanksgiving matinee to better accommodate baseball.
—Joe Kozlowski, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
The data captures both on- and off-field earnings, and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is the top dog, making $50 million from the Chiefs and $30 million in endorsements.
—Scott Soshnick, Sportico.com, 18 Sep. 2025
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Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
Your final choice of a top dog and a top cat will be featured in a Miami Herald story.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
The Toronto Maple Leafs, usually the town’s top dog, showed baseball on the big screen after their home opener; the Leafs will also shift the start time of their Canadian Thanksgiving matinee to better accommodate baseball.
—Joe Kozlowski, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
The data captures both on- and off-field earnings, and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is the top dog, making $50 million from the Chiefs and $30 million in endorsements.
—Scott Soshnick, Sportico.com, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for top dog
Cite this Entry
“Top dog.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/top%20dog. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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