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
Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
Selig testified at a House Agriculture Committee meeting last Thursday that the CFTC is taking precautions as the chief regulator.
—Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2026
Lauren Victory, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026
New editor-in-chief Javier Hasse lives in Argentina and Kesselman’s business partner, Matt Stang, is based in Los Angeles.
—Steve Bloom, Rolling Stone, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chief
Adjective
Johny Srouji will become chief hardware officer.
—Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
Selig testified at a House Agriculture Committee meeting last Thursday that the CFTC is taking precautions as the chief regulator.
—Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
The superintendent of Plainfield schools and the Joliet police chief were planning a noon news conference Monday to discuss Buetikofer's arrest.
—Lauren Victory, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026
New editor-in-chief Javier Hasse lives in Argentina and Kesselman’s business partner, Matt Stang, is based in Los Angeles.
—Steve Bloom, Rolling Stone, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chief
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chief
Adjective
-
Three main risks should worry Congress, the courts and every American about the rapid rise of these markets.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Surges can sometimes indicate an underlying wiring issue or a problem with your main breaker.—
Timothy Dale,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The egrets flew more slowly, their long bodies looking dark gray against the sunset as the sky turned to a pale purple.—
Emily Holshouser,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Made with 61 percent cotton, 35 percent Tencel and 4 percent elastmultiester, the fabrics give garments a soft drape away from the body while maintaining the stretch, structure and smoothing properties.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Blackhawks kept pace in the conference standings with Riverside-Brookfield and Glenbard East, with all three teams trailing league leader South Elgin by one game.—
Rick Armstrong,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Apr. 2026
-
As the eldest brother in the band, Alan was often seen as its de facto leader.—
Ellise Shafer,
Variety,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Just last month it was reported that Cesar Chavez, the United Farm Workers organiser, raped women and girls, and Noam Chomsky—one of the left’s foremost intellectuals whose most popular book is called Manufacturing Consent—is right there on the Epstein private jet.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The number of people with severe acute malnutrition, the most dangerous and deadly kind, is expected to increase to 800,000, the world’s foremost experts on food security, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, said in February.—
Samy Magdy,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
At its core, the hospice benefit is simple.—
Tom Koutsoumpas,
Oc Register,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Focus on core power Gaines advocates for building a strong core through any movement, even during ordinary day-to-day activities.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
His original boss, national security adviser Mike Waltz, was booted to the United Nations after the Signalgate scandal, leaving the role to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was already juggling portfolios and is busier now with Iran.—
Hannah Allam,
ProPublica,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Most Fed chairs have left the board altogether when their term as boss runs out.—
Joe Walsh,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Lemon was also the Trojans’ primary return man during his sophomore and junior seasons and was even used on a trick play against Oregon this season that resulted in a 24-yard touchdown pass to then-freshman Tanook Hines.—
Haley Sawyer,
Oc Register,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The Highway Trust Fund — the primary federal account dedicated to funding highways, bridges and transit — is going broke.—
Andrew Stasiowski,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
When nominations for the 2026 ACM Awards were announced earlier this month, the commanding storyline was the dominance by women as nominees.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Peck joined the Blue Angels after serving as the commanding officer for the Fighting Checkmates of VFA-211.—
Rashad Alexander,
Kansas City Star,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Chief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chief. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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