Synonyms of chief

chief 1 of 2

adjective

ˈchēf 

1

as in main

coming before all others in importance

our chief priority this year will be cutting the budget

Synonyms & Similar Words

• main
• greatest
• primary
• highest
• foremost
• predominant
• dominant
• principal
• leading
• first
• big
• supreme
• key
• central
• cardinal
• paramount
• premier
• overriding
• master
• great
• sovereign
• prior
• capital
• primal
• distinguished
• overbearing
• number one
• senior
• preeminent
• major
• top
• eminent
• grand
• overmastering
• illustrious
• outstanding
• notable
• important
• arch
• noteworthy
• high-level
• superior
• prestigious
• signal
• numero uno
• star
• influential
• stellar
• mighty
• renowned
• noble
• famed
• famous
• significant
• incomparable
• celebrated
• unparalleled
• momentous
• unsurpassed
• unequaled
• matchless

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• last
• least
• minor
• secondary
• subordinate
• unimportant
• slight
• insignificant
• trivial
• negligible
• inferior
• collateral
• inconsiderable
• trifling
• subsidiary
• inconsequential

2

as in presiding

highest in rank or authority

the chief administrator will be retiring soon

Synonyms & Similar Words

• presiding
• foremost
• commanding
• supreme
• principal
• senior
• top
• primary
• leading
• lead
• first
• high
• head
• prime
• premier
• main
• in charge
• preeminent
• supereminent
• major
• supervisory
• high-level
• predominant
• managing
• overseeing
• paramount
• dominant
• reigning
• controlling
• sovereign
• ruling
• officiating
• upper
• directing
• superior
• uppermost
• ascendant
• topmost
• predominate
• regnant
• grand
• upmost

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• second
• last
• less
• secondary
• lower
• subordinate
• lesser
• subsidiary
• ancillary
• inferior
• lowly
• assistant
• deputy
• junior
• assisting
• under
• coadjutor

chief

2 of 2

noun

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

• body
• core
• bulk
• weight
• majority
• main
• staple
• essence
• mass
• burden
• center
• whole
• root
• bottom
• heart
• nature
• entirety
• substance
• brunt
• middle
• focus
• generality
• sum
• heft
• meat
• matter
• amount
• subject
• soul
• total
• marrow
• kernel
• hub
• nucleus
• quantum
• seat
• totality
• aggregate
• sum total
• theme
• stuff
• text
• argument
• topic
• essentiality
• pitch
• pith
• affair
• motif
• point
• gist
• quintessence
• nut
• crux
• nub
• purport

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• extension
• component
• element
• part
• constituent
• adjunct
• section
• division
• ingredient
• accessory
• appendage
• segment
• offshoot
• piece
• side
• feature
• quality
• aspect
• angle
• facet

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

• leader
• boss
• foreman
• captain
• commander
• director
• master
• manager
• head
• lord
• administrator
• overseer
• superintendent
• honcho
• supervisor
• executive
• headman
• helmsman
• president
• kingpin
• principal
• boss man
• taskmaster
• jefe
• governor
• general
• steward
• king
• ruler
• mistress
• skipper
• overlord
• czar
• directress
• superior
• employer
• magnate
• leadman
• standard-bearer
• sovereign
• prince
• bigwig
• baron
• figurehead
• potentate
• dominator
• mogul
• straw boss
• higher-up
• big gun
• hierarch
• top dog
• coleader
• gaffer
• top gun
• cohead
• ganger
• big cheese
• subchief
• micromanager
• subdirector

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• secondary
• dependent
• subject
• subordinate
• junior
• underling
• inferior

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of chief

Adjective

Alycia Clark, Direct Relief’s vice president and chief pharmacy officer, said the earthquakes compounded longstanding shortages of medicines, healthcare workers and medical infrastructure, leaving many patients at risk of missing routine care. — ABC News, 29 July 2026

Villalobos was a finalist alongside Ernie Lozano, the chief human resources officer for Broward County Public Schools. — Miami Herald, 29 July 2026

Noun

Deputy Chief Jason Petersen served briefly as interim chief before the city brought in Doug Brinkley to temporarily fill that role in September last year. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 21 July 2026

His six-month tenure as defense minister coincided with Ukraine’s recent success on the battlefield – and so his removal, amid disagreements with Syrskyi, caused a backlash against the military chief. — Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 21 July 2026

Phrases Containing chief

• commander in chief