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
Sven Van Mourik, The Dial, 31 Mar. 2026
Hal Nelson, Corning executive vice president and chief operating officer, emphasized that Corning invented the first low-loss optical fiber more than 50 years ago, which revolutionized telecommunications.
—Charlotte Observer, 31 Mar. 2026
Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Mar. 2026
America's poster-in-chief has a new challenger.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chief
Adjective
Protests erupted and Finance Minister and chief negotiator of the deal Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala saw her mother kidnapped, the terms of her release including her resignation from government.
—Sven Van Mourik, The Dial, 31 Mar. 2026
Hal Nelson, Corning executive vice president and chief operating officer, emphasized that Corning invented the first low-loss optical fiber more than 50 years ago, which revolutionized telecommunications.
—Charlotte Observer, 31 Mar. 2026
Noun
Serrano had prior encounters with police and a history of mental health issues, the chief said.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Mar. 2026
America's poster-in-chief has a new challenger.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chief
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chief
Adjective
-
Demonstrators flocked to protests around the country to march, stand in crowds or line main streets.—
Sarah D. Wire,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Sirens alerted people to seek shelter in and around Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Beer Sheba and areas near the country’s main nuclear research center, which were targeted by Iranian strikes that injured dozens last weekend.—
Farnoush Amiri,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Her body was found at a site along the Trinity River.—
Emerson Clarridge
Updated March 31,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
-
In their filing in Sacramento Superior Court, the residents accuse city officials of violating Measure O, which mandates that interim shelters sit more than 500 feet away from bodies of water or streams.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The protest, organized by national anti-death penalty organizations Death Penalty Action and Worth Rise, was attended mostly by local faith leaders and members.—
Sally Krutzig,
Idaho Statesman,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Thousands of people are calling on Charlotte leaders to stop a data center from setting up shop southeast of Reedy Creek Nature Preserve.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Its seminary is the foremost clerical institution in the world, training students from Lebanon, Iraq and Afghanistan in a wide range of topics, including Shiite jurisprudence, Quranic interpretation and Arabic literature.—
Mary Thurlkill,
The Conversation,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The meeting has been positioned as a critical opportunity for both sides to reset the relationship between the world’s two foremost economic and military powers.—
Sylvie Zhuang,
CNN Money,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
At their core, these cases are centered on allegations of corporate negligence and how tech products are built, by humans, to function.—
Maggie Harrison Dupré,
Futurism,
26 Mar. 2026
-
William Blair downgraded the stock to a hold from buy, citing intense AI competition in its core creative cloud business.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The lawsuit noted that Fox News bosses criticized the network’s journalists for not considering the feelings of its pro-Trump audience following the election that sent Joe Biden to the White House.—
Stephen Battaglio,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Being the owner of something and being the boss of something obviously come with a lot of responsibility.—
Datwon Thomas,
VIBE.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The primary retreat anchors dual bathrooms, a private salon and an oversized dressing room.—
Sandra Barrera,
Oc Register,
26 Mar. 2026
-
But the May 5 Democratic primary election, which pits a progressive newcomer and a longtime political gadfly against an incumbent with strong ties to Indy Democrats, could act as a proxy for voters' feelings about the party establishment.—
Jordan Smith,
IndyStar,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The play subverts itself, never allowing an audience to gain a commanding foothill, even at the end when (suffice it to say) the watchers become the watched.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Mar. 2026
-
At 132 feet, the 40P is larger and more commanding, offering additional space and slightly flashier features.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Chief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chief. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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