bigshots
People with clout
Bigshots are important or influential people, typically used with a note of irreverence or resentment: The bigshots in corporate don't care what happens to us.
The term suggests someone who wields power or commands attention, often implying they're self-important or out of touch with ordinary people.
Also spelled as two words: big shots.
Bumps or bigwigs
- tycoonsPowerful business leaders
- magnatesWealthy, powerful industrialists
- titansDominant powerful figures
- oligarchsWealthy few who govern
plutocrats · barons · kingpins · heavyweights · captains of industry · power brokers · fat cats · top brass
Senior corporate officers
- directorsThose who lead organizations
- chiefsTop-ranking leaders
- commandersMilitary authority figures
- generalsBroad statements or commanders
admirals · CEOs · presidents · chairmen · governors · senators · deans · chancellors
Influential, powerful people
- kingmakersThose who decide leadership
- dealmakersThose who negotiate agreements
- rainmakersHigh-value business attractors
- decision-makersThose with choosing power
gatekeepers · tastemakers · opinion-makers · well-connected · networkers · fixers · insiders · politicos
Affectedly grand in manner
- self-importantExaggerating one's own significance
- snootyAffectedly superior in manner
- haughtyDisdainfully proud
- condescendingSuperior and dismissive manner
patronizing · dismissive · imperious · high-and-mighty · holier-than-thou · egotistical · puffed-up · swaggering
moguls
Bumps or bigwigs
- tycoonsPowerful business leaders
- magnatesWealthy, powerful industrialists
- titansDominant powerful figures
oligarchs · plutocrats · barons · kingpins · heavyweights · captains of industry · power brokers · fat cats · top brass · mucky-mucks
executives
Senior corporate officers
- directorsThose who lead organizations
- chiefsTop-ranking leaders
- commandersMilitary authority figures
generals · admirals · CEOs · presidents · chairmen · governors · senators · deans · chancellors · commissioners
movers and shakers
Influential, powerful people
- kingmakersThose who decide leadership
- dealmakersThose who negotiate agreements
- rainmakersHigh-value business attractors
decision-makers · gatekeepers · tastemakers · opinion-makers · well-connected · networkers · fixers · insiders · politicos · wheeler-dealers
pompous
Affectedly grand in manner
- self-importantExaggerating one's own significance
- snootyAffectedly superior in manner
- haughtyDisdainfully proud
condescending · patronizing · dismissive · imperious · high-and-mighty · holier-than-thou · egotistical · puffed-up · swaggering · boastful
bigshotsnobodies
Unimportant, unknown persons
small fry · rank-and-file · little people · underlings · peons
bigshotsunknowns
Undetermined quantities
nobodies · anonymities · John Does · average Joes · regular Joes
big, shot, shots, bigger, biggest, bigness, shooter, shooters, shooting