pooh-bah

noun

ˈpü-ˌbä How to pronounce pooh-bah (audio)
variants also poo-bah
Definition of pooh-bahnext
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

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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 pooh-bah Through his vital performance, and no doubt, director Peter Ellenstein’s shaping and sculpting the portrayal, what could be at worst a pooh-bah’s laundry list makes for a consuming evening. — Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 20 Jan. 2026 Instead of improving classroom instruction, education pooh-bahs try to hide their failures by dumbing down standards. — Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pooh-bah
  1. heavyweight
  2. big
  3. heavy
  4. magnate
  5. bigwig
  6. tycoon
Noun
  • Northrop Grumman faces stiff competition in the uncrewed fighter market from several defence industry heavyweights.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The New York Rangers remain an Eastern Conference heavyweight relying on their dominant foundation.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of heavyweight
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
  • Recruiting Cohen is a big to support Black Bear’s investment in a broad slate of independent films.
    — Mya Copeland, Variety, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of big
Noun
  • That also suggests the league accepts, or at least tolerates, the flag-heavy officiating that has come to define the early months of the season.
    — Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The forecast is for rain and wind off the lake (hit the under heavy) and that will put a premium on running the football and lessen the reliance on Rodgers, who might be feeling the effects of a short week.
    — Hank Gola, New York Daily News, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of heavy
Noun
  • Oprah Winfrey is many things—a source of wisdom, a business magnate, and a style icon.
    — Annie Blackman, InStyle, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Kounalakis holds a master’s in business administration from UC Berkeley and is the daughter of Sacramento real estate magnate Angelo Tsakopolous.
    — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of magnate
Noun
  • To the average investor, the bond markets may seem like a concern better left to Wall Street bigwigs.
    — Personal Finance, TheWeek, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The suit added a glamour factor for bigwig sponsors who would sometimes ride along.
    — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of bigwig
Noun
  • In the heady satire about elites causing worldwide climate destruction, Cruise plays the titular Digger Rockwell, an out-of-touch oil tycoon.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The backstory Personas in the hotel’s backstory include a Thai rockstar-slash-antiques collector, a devout Buddhist business tycoon, and a superstar designer.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of tycoon

Browse Nearby Words

pooching
pooh-bah
pooh-bahs
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Cite this Entry

“Pooh-bah.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pooh-bah. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

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