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

In 1995-96, Comey was deputy to Michael Chertoff, chief Republican counsel on the Senate Whitewater Committee. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 10 Nov. 2026

Jeremy Latcham is the new president and chief creative officer of DC Studios, taking over duties after James Gunn and Peter Safran’s four-year stint. — Zack Sharf, Variety, 10 Nov. 2026

Noun

Other names have been bandied around — including top former LAPD official Bill Scott, the chief of the new Metro police force, and former Los Angeles County Dist. — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2026

Sinwar's demise prompted the formation of a temporary leadership committee that ultimately chose deputy chief Khalil al-Hayya as the group's new chief in July. — Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Nov. 2026

Phrases Containing chief

• commander in chief