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chief 1 of 2

adjective

ˈchēf How to pronounce chief (audio)
Definition of chiefnext
1
as in main
coming before all others in importance our chief priority this year will be cutting the budget

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2
as in presiding
highest in rank or authority the chief administrator will be retiring soon

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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

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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

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of chief
Adjective
If religion has traditionally been one of the chief mechanisms for enforcing shame, LessWrong and its posters have flipped many of the conventions once regulated by shame on their head. — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2026 Voters are choosing the 80 members of a regional parliament, who will in turn elect a chief minister in their first session. — ABC News, 15 Sep. 2026
Noun
Trailed uselessly by Charlie, who is next seen ordering the police chief about. — Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026 Police chief Fuller is correct — talking down a place can be self-fulfilling. — Michael Walker, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for chief
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chief
  1. main
  2. foremost
  3. body
  4. leader
  5. primary
  6. commanding
  7. core
  8. boss
Adjective
  • Rhodes owes Orton another lick after getting punted in the head following their WrestleMania 42 Night 1 main event brawl.
    — Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Spectrum’s second flight began with ignition of the rocket’s nine Aquila main engines, burning a mixture of propane and liquid oxygen propellants to generate more than 150,000 pounds (675 kilonewtons) of thrust.
    — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of main
Adjective
  • Making the roster more functional will be the foremost objective for whomever Crane chooses to replace Brown.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
  • One of the two candidates for president, one of the country’s foremost politicians, was expressly lumping together a sizable American ethnic minority with external enemies.
    — Daniel Benjamin, Foreign Affairs, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of foremost
Noun
  • Again, while many dip to their left before throwing a hook to the body, the American stands tall and finds the angle with his long reach.
    — Chris McKenna, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • In 1968, patrolman Ed Pospisil of Fire Patrol 3 led the effort to locate the bodies of 12 FDNY firefighters killed in a raging East 23rd Street fire the year before.
    — Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of body
Noun
  • There are also higher-order issues that Fortune 500 leaders must consider.
    — Kamal Ahmed, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Many tech leaders generally say their goal is to develop the technology in ways that promote safety, address legal liability, feed economic growth, advance science and preserve national security.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of leader
Adjective
  • The club prefers Taylor to serve as the primary organizational voice to relay its message — and to take the brunt of criticism.
    — Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The charcoal floor tiling and island in the corner kitchen feel like something Rick Owens would have dreamed up, as are the primary bathroom’s concrete floors and shower stall.
    — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of primary
Adjective
  • Kirkwood had a commanding lead before Palou's spin caused a caution.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Adrián Marín set up the play with his pass to Tiago as Orlando took what seemed to be a commanding lead in the second half.
    — Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of commanding
Noun
  • Yarbo later acknowledged the core technical findings and began rolling out fixes.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026
  • But the core four aren’t the only transplants from Woodsboro, as Ghostface soon rears its ugly head, directly targeting them and whomever else is caught up in their orbit.
    — Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of core
Noun
  • Ahead of being presented with the award, the animation boss sat down with Deadline to talk about his work, and tease some of what’s next.
    — Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Bertrand is a hands-on boss, and even when relaxing by the pool or doing a little skeet shooting, a worried one.
    — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of boss

Phrases Containing chief

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chiding
chief
chief justice
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Cite this Entry

“Chief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chief. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on chief

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about chief

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