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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of chief
Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 9 June 2026
Daniel’s chief ally is WARDEX Director of Biological Assets Hugo Wakefield (Colman Domingo), who went underground along with a dozen employees and now shares the same goal.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2026
Ethan Bronner, Bloomberg, 8 June 2026
Taking a few swipes at several AI companies, Apple’s software chief, Craig Federighi, took the time to emphasize the company’s focus on privacy and user experience.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for chief
Adjective
That’s a key reason the approval of a new, safer chemical ingredient for sunscreens is such good news, said David Andrews, EWG’s chief science officer.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 9 June 2026
Daniel’s chief ally is WARDEX Director of Biological Assets Hugo Wakefield (Colman Domingo), who went underground along with a dozen employees and now shares the same goal.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2026
Noun
Bloomberg’s Israel bureau chief Ethan Bronner explains.
—Ethan Bronner, Bloomberg, 8 June 2026
Taking a few swipes at several AI companies, Apple’s software chief, Craig Federighi, took the time to emphasize the company’s focus on privacy and user experience.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for chief
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chief
Adjective
-
Kevin Cook, the venue’s main host and inarguably the reigning queen of drag in Portland.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
-
Pashinyan’s main rival is the Strong Armenia Party, which wants closer business ties with Russia and accuses Pashinyan of attempting to spark a war with Moscow.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 June 2026
Noun
-
The addition gives Golden State another body in the frontcourt along with starting center Kiah Stokes and backup Laeticia Amihere.—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
10 June 2026
-
The spa Offering an incredible selection of body, skin, and mind therapies, The Spa by Equinox Hotels is the ultimate in pampering.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
The move suggests a broader shift in Tehran, where a new generation of leaders is increasingly abandoning the cautious, reactive approach that long defined the Islamic Republic’s strategy towards its adversaries.—
Abbas Al Lawati,
CNN Money,
10 June 2026
-
Bains, backed by Democratic Party leaders and major labor organizations, ran as a more moderate Democrat with a healthcare background who occasionally broke with her party on Assembly votes.—
Mathew Miranda
June 9,
Sacbee.com,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
Silverman, who leads one of the world’s foremost corporate investigations and risk advisory firms, calls that a category error.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
1 June 2026
-
Karen Martin, a professor of biology at Pepperdine University and foremost expert on the creatures, will be in attendance, as will retired State Parks ranger Jim Serpa, who ran the program for three decades and helped resurrect it a few years ago.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
While the run business resonated with shoppers, the company’s campaign for its core yoga product didn’t live up to expectations.—
Evan Clark,
Footwear News,
4 June 2026
-
Other major areas in the district include Galt, Elk Grove and several capital region neighborhoods including Campus Commons, Oak Park, south Sacramento and the city’s downtown core.—
Mathew Miranda
June 4,
Sacbee.com,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Online resale app Vinted is seeing a structural shift in consumer behaviour, as habits form around the resale economy, the company’s marketplace boss told CNBC on Monday.—
Elsa Ohlen,
CNBC,
9 June 2026
-
Now, even a Gen Z hiring manager is backing the bosses who slam her generation after an interviewee FaceTimed her and demanded more money.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
9 June 2026
Adjective
-
California will have to wait before knowing the final outcome of the June 2 gubernatorial primary election as the country’s most populous state continues counting ballots.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
5 June 2026
-
Millions of Californians filled out their 2026 primary election ballots over the last several weeks either at home or at the polls, expressing their constitutional right to vote in a free and fair election.—
Austin Turner,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento took a commanding lead in the race for the District 2 seat on the OC Board of Supervisors as results were released following the close of polls Tuesday night.—
Claire Wang,
Oc Register,
3 June 2026
-
Ellis is the commanding general of the 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson in Colorado.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Chief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chief. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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