big boys

noun

plural of big boy
as in bigs
one of high position or importance within a group when she became the network's White House correspondent, she knew that she was now playing with the big boys

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 big boys These are the 30-homer big boys, the men who hit in the top four spots of most teams’ lineups. — Jayson Stark, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026 But taking on one of Wall Street’s big boys, and then getting squashed for it, ranks right up there. — Liz Peek, Washington Post, 4 May 2026 Then the Bruins big boys decided to make a statement after that. — Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 30 Mar. 2026 Will the Niners spend like big boys and sign Hendrickson, Linderbaum and JFM? — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2026 Only little boys are called big boys. — Arkansas Online, 15 Jan. 2026 There are big boys throwing their weight around, and there are wild skinnies with flying arms and spinning back-kicks, chopping out their emergency version of personal space. — James Parker, The Atlantic, 16 Dec. 2025 One of the biggest reasons the Padres’ slugging numbers are down is that those big boys have not produced the power that was expected out of them. — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for big boys
  1. bigs
  2. heavyweights
  3. wheels
  4. big guns
  5. heavies
  6. heavy hitters
  7. big shots
  8. big wheels
Noun
  • The belief in Green Bay is the veteran bigs will give Love more time to throw.
    — Jonathan Jones, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026
  • That is a remarkable incentive, if not catnip, to send Condon to the bigs.
    — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of bigs
Noun
  • Fashion Is Really, Really Under the Influence People of the internet and of internet influence are front row heavyweights.
    — Joan Kennedy, Vogue, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Another game to enjoy today is between two heavyweights in the NFC.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of heavyweights
Noun
  • The vehicle then rotated in midair and landed back on its wheels.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Other times, a bike maker can slap on a new paint job, a different set of wheels and a cushier seat, and somehow end up with a bike that sells like hotcakes.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of wheels
Noun
  • After England have raised a glass comes a three-match one-day international series this week when India will welcome back big guns including captain Shubman Gill and legends Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
    — Paul Newman, New York Times, 12 July 2026
  • The Minnesota Wild’s big guns showed up in a big way Saturday night, and the Avs looked wobbly for the first time in this tournament in a 5-1 loss in Game 3 at Grand Casino Arena.
    — Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 10 May 2026
Definition of big guns
Noun
  • Mehring’s characters include petty criminals, unscrupulous lawyers, Galician Jews, Freikorps heavies, local and international businessmen, Prussian generals, and the everyday citizens inhabiting the streets of Berlin’s old and rather dingy center.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The album also features cameos by heavies from Gojira, Lamb of God, Queens of the Stone Age, and Clutch.
    — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of heavies
Noun
  • Despite the heavy hitters, all this comes with major challenges and caveats.
    — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2026
  • But the original Best R&B Album category still carries its own sense of cachet, and this year’s field should include some awfully heavy hitters.
    — Meagan Jordan, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of heavy hitters
Noun
  • That’s why in this episode, Olivia goes looking for the kind of investor who is angry enough to stick it to the big shots.
    — Noel Murray, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The big deals have been made, the big shots have come and gone.
    — David Szondy July 23, New Atlas, 23 July 2026
Definition of big shots
Noun
  • The car's quirky appearance is enhanced by a sporty body kit and big wheels that are pushed to the farthest edges.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 27 Apr. 2026
  • The cars that Geely showcased at CES, in Las Vegas, were large SUVs with big wheels, opulent interiors, and three rows of seats—not unlike a Ford Explorer.
    — Patrick George, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2026
Definition of big wheels

Browse Nearby Words

big boy
big boys
Big Brother
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Cite this Entry

“Big boys.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/big%20boys. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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