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

Overseeing their appearance at the bar was Denni Manzatto, who was appointed CEO of Church’s in 2022 before being promoted to its president alongside a new role as chief integration and transformation officer at Versace earlier this year. — Luke Leitch, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026

Similarly, other countries have been inspired by Morocco’s developments in soccer, by far the most popular sport in Africa, said Ijasanmi, who previously worked as chief operational officer of the Confederation of African Football. — ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026

Noun

Crump said in a statement earlier this week, also noting the Senatobia police chief was recently fired for allegedly using racial slurs. — Mark Osborne, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026

Police chief promises independent investigation In a statement released late Tuesday, Woodland police said the ICE agent driving the Chevrolet Tahoe immediately notified dispatch and cooperated with local investigators. — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2026

Phrases Containing chief

• commander in chief