1
as in main
coming before all others in importance
our chief priority this year will be cutting the budget
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in presiding
highest in rank or authority
the chief administrator will be retiring soon
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in body
the main or greater part of something as distinguished from its subordinate parts
the chief of the estate was left to the eldest son
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in leader
the person (as an employer or supervisor) who tells people and especially workers what to do
our chief is out on a business trip right now
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of chief
Melissa Repko, CNBC, 20 Sep. 2025
Jean-Marc Duplaix will continue to serve as group chief operating officer of Kering, while the functions of the Kering deputy CEO will be eliminated.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 19 Sep. 2025
Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 22 Sep. 2025
The police chief is in bed with mobsters.
—Zephyr Teachout, The Atlantic, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chief
Adjective
All three warehouse clubs have broadened their merchandise and bulked up digital options, particularly since the Covid pandemic, said Marshal Cohen, a chief industry advisor for Circana.
—Melissa Repko, CNBC, 20 Sep. 2025
Jean-Marc Duplaix will continue to serve as group chief operating officer of Kering, while the functions of the Kering deputy CEO will be eliminated.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 19 Sep. 2025
Noun
Questions remain over who will replace him as Air Force chief.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 22 Sep. 2025
The police chief is in bed with mobsters.
—Zephyr Teachout, The Atlantic, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chief
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chief
Adjective
-
Transfer fee add-ons, or ‘contingent consideration’, to use accountancy lingo, can be accounted for in different ways, with three main practices used in the industry.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Frontier Drive is also envisioned as the project’s main street and will be lined with shops and restaurants.—
Jennifer Van Grove,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Upon entering the home, the neighbor found Tom’s body — and that of his wife, Margaret — on the living room floor.—
ProPublica,
ProPublica,
22 Sep. 2025
-
There is some small research to suggest that cold plunges may help reduce stress on your cells and make your body more resilient to future stress.—
Korin Miller,
SELF,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
That is where creativity lives, where intimacy is built, and where leaders are made.—
Curt Steinhorst,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
-
The pair referred to, Vanderbilt University’s Daniel Diermeier and Washington University’s Andrew Martin, have taken a very different approach than the maximalist resistance stance of many elite university leaders.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders.—
Anna Forsythe,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
-
But some of its foremost victims aren’t Israeli Jews.—
Sean Durns,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Since World War I, the American right has held together as a political movement by prioritizing a conservative vision of white Christian values and private enterprise, while shielding those immutable core principles with expendable public‑facing ideals.—
Allan J. Lichtman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Biglari’s core demands were to stop opening new stores entirely, eliminate the development team to save money, and focus exclusively on improving existing store operations rather than expansion.—
Lily Mae Lazarus,
Fortune,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Hughes and his boss have to manage inputs and enter commands manually.—
Jenna McLaughlin,
NPR,
20 Sep. 2025
-
Dan Gilroy Emmy-winning Andor writer Dan Gilroy penned an op-ed for Deadline in support of Kimmel while also saving some empathy for his Disney bosses.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
20 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The game’s primary goal is to shed light on the struggles of being forced into a refugee camp.—
Lisa Deaderick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Sep. 2025
-
The reason for the Fed’s tentative steps is its two primary and potentially clashing mandates — maximum sustainable employment and price stability.—
Erik Sherman,
Forbes.com,
20 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Andersen, who previously worked for the San Antonio Police Department, has ruddy cheeks and a commanding presence.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Irvine ran the ball, passed the ball and slowed down Laguna Hills’ uptempo offense with a commanding defensive display.—
Martin Henderson,
Oc Register,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Chief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chief. Accessed 24 Sep. 2025.
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