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

Khloe Kardashian backed Khloud popcorn line, Zac Efron serves as chief brand officer for Kodiak Cakes, Mark Wahlberg is in business with Performance Inspired, Patrick Schwarzenegger has MOSH with his mother, Maria Shriver, and more. — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2026

Lyall works as a chief product officer at a blockchain company. — Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Noun

The film did, however, turn 20th, particularly studio chief Steve Asbell, into serious Duffield fans. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026

The following month, Brad Lightcap, a longtime OpenAI executive, and Denise Dresser, who served as revenue chief, also left the company. — Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026

Phrases Containing chief

• commander in chief