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
Katherine Fung, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
Every $10 rise in oil prices bumps up headline inflation by roughly 0.4 percentage points and cuts economic growth by roughly 0.1 percentage point, Douglas Porter, chief economist at BMO Capital, estimated.
—Medora Lee, USA Today, 24 June 2025
Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 14 June 2025
Nichols' family is suing the five officers, the city of Memphis and the police chief for $550 million.
—Arkansas Online, 14 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for chief
Adjective
Daniel Danker, the chief product officer at Instacart, was among the early risers at the venue.
—Katherine Fung, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
Every $10 rise in oil prices bumps up headline inflation by roughly 0.4 percentage points and cuts economic growth by roughly 0.1 percentage point, Douglas Porter, chief economist at BMO Capital, estimated.
—Medora Lee, USA Today, 24 June 2025
Noun
Every so often, the bleary-eyed budget chiefs, Sen. Ed Hooper of Palm Harbor and Rep. Lawrence McClure of Dover, appeared publicly for brief meetings in the state Capitol to ratify decisions that had already made in private.
—Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 14 June 2025
Nichols' family is suing the five officers, the city of Memphis and the police chief for $550 million.
—Arkansas Online, 14 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for chief
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chief
Adjective
-
When the United States launched a war against Mexico in 1846, for example, a main legal justification was Mexico’s unpaid debts.—
Oona A. Hathaway,
Foreign Affairs,
24 June 2025
-
In the women's division, UFC Hall of Famer Ronda Rousey had a landmark run, holding the Raw Women's Championship and co-headlining the first all-female WrestleMania main event.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 June 2025
Noun
-
From 2011 to 2015 McClay worked as a consultant advising firms and trade bodies on not-for-profit strategy and management, and on sustainable sourcing policies and standards.—
Alan McClay,
Sourcing Journal,
26 June 2025
-
While Suzanne Morphew went missing in May 2020, her body wasn't found by investigators in Colorado until September 2023.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
26 June 2025
Noun
-
Finally, leading up, your leaders need to start with the understanding that the ego has to stay outside the door.—
Barbara Puszkiewicz-Cimino,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2025
-
In fact, high-profile investors and business leaders in the Big Apple are up in arms about the stunning win by the democratic socialist in the primary to win the Democratic nomination to serve as the next New York City mayor.—
Sean Conlon,
CNBC,
25 June 2025
Adjective
-
Giard grew up to become both a voracious reader (with a B.A. in English and American literature from Yale and an M.A. in comparative literature from Boston University) and a foremost chronicler of writers.—
Chris Wiley,
New Yorker,
28 June 2025
-
One of the Jet Propulsion Lab’s foremost scientists says the futuristic outpost is still hoping against hope that the president’s plan for NASA will be overturned by Congress.—
Kevin Holden Platt,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
Noun
-
Despite Benfica’s determination to preserve the core of a potentially special team, Fernandez returned to Portugal with Chelsea hot in pursuit.—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
28 June 2025
-
History is also at the core of the third installation, which may be my favorite.—
Sal Pizarro,
Mercury News,
28 June 2025
Noun
-
After they were discovered by her boss, she was also forced to kill her superior and burned all the participant files.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
-
His father, Curtis, took the day off work from a General Electric small appliances plant in Allentown to watch his son in person, fortuitously getting permission from his boss — who was himself the father of a major league pitcher, Curt Simmons.—
Jon Paul Hoornstra,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 June 2025
Adjective
-
The second floor has the primary suite, which is large and has a private balcony that overlooks the grounds.—
James Alexander,
Hartford Courant,
29 June 2025
-
Disclosure data shows that more than a dozen lawyers and paralegals with the New York Legal Assistance Group made cash contributions to Mamdani’s campaign ahead of the primary election.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
29 June 2025
Adjective
-
Five minutes later, an own goal by Inter Miami defender Tomas Aviles, who was subbed into the match in the 19th minute, gave PSG a commanding 3-0 lead.—
Wayne Sterling,
CNN Money,
29 June 2025
-
The Democratic Socialist state Assembly member defied expectations and took a commanding lead in Tuesday's New York City mayoral primary.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
26 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Chief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chief. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
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