kahuna

noun

kə-ˈhü-nə How to pronounce kahuna (audio)
Definition of kahunanext
as in heavyweight
one of high position or importance within a group a big kahuna at a Hollywood talent agency, he's got the fancy car to prove it

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 kahuna The ISM Manufacturing Index kicks things off today with plenty of more data over the coming days, anchored by the big kahuna, Friday’s employment situation report for July. — Jj Kinahan, Forbes, 1 Aug. 2022 But the big kahuna is still to come, as the company finally confirmed that the Supra is officially getting a manual transmission. — Joey Capparella, Car and Driver, 15 Apr. 2022 The big kahuna of their SoCal tour-within-a-tour this week is Wednesday night’s show at Crypto.com Arena, a venue that’s seven miles and about 43 years from the Masque, where the earliest incarnation of the group started out as a punk group. — Chris Willman, Variety, 30 Mar. 2022 And the big kahuna of them all, the Oscars, are just around the corner. — Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 22 Dec. 2021 See All Example Sentences for kahuna
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kahuna
  1. big
  2. heavy
  3. king
  4. queen
  5. lion
  6. magnate
Noun
  • Auburn has reached its second national semifinal ever, off the strength of unanimous All-American big Johni Broome and the cadre of good shooters in his orbit.
    — Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025
  • In sharp contrast to Chattanooga, the Anteaters are led by a duo of senior bigs, with 7-foot center Bent Leuchten leading the team with 15.4 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, pairing with senior forward Devin Tillis, who's averaged 13.5 points and 7.8 rebounds.
    — Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of big
Noun
  • Harry heads back to the yard, where a group of Kevin's Czechoslovakian hired heavies are preparing for war.
    — Matt Cabral, EW.com, 13 Apr. 2025
  • On Twin Peaks, Strong plays Jones, the right-hand woman for one of the series’ heavies.
    — Drew Mackie, People.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of heavy
Noun
  • Charlotte on the other hand will likely be the future daughter or sister of a future king.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025
  • The Prince of Wales’ attendance in place of the King is a modern tradition, and a statement to further establish William’s role as future king.
    — Callum Sutherland, Time, 24 Apr. 2025
Definition of king
Noun
  • While Jon is bound to leadership by a sense of duty, Daenerys sees herself as a liberator, a queen steeped in moral righteousness who freed slaves across the sea for the greater good.
    — David Sims, The Atlantic, 14 July 2017
  • THE TRENDSETTER Salt & Straw is the homecoming queen of ice cream in LA.
    — Cole Kazdin, Los Angeles Magazine, 14 July 2017
Definition of queen
Noun
  • The company’s influence was further cemented earlier this month when the Pentagon awarded SpaceX the lion’s share of a $13.5 billion launch contract through 2029.
    — Jackie Snow, Quartz, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Although the La Roja hero spent the lion’s share of his competitive years in Catalunya, he’s also sampled the sport in Asia and the Middle East with Vissel Kobe (Japan) and Emirates Club (United Arab Emirates).
    — Henry Flynn, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Definition of lion
Noun
  • Around the same time, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, a real estate magnate who has been heavily involved in the negotiations with Russia, mused about the possibilities for U.S.-Russian collaboration in an interview with the commentator Tucker Carlson.
    — Stacie E. Goddard, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Zuckerberg, who was recently revealed as the buyer of a $23 million mansion with a 10-minute commute to the White House, is but the latest of the Silicon Valley magnates flocking to the area’s high-end homes, making ripples in the luxury real estate market as well as in politics.
    — Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of magnate

Browse Nearby Words

Kafkaesque
kahuna
kahunas
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Cite this Entry

“Kahuna.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kahuna. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.

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