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
Jennifer Maas, Variety, 12 May 2026
Templeton, today a Microsoft corporate vice president and deputy chief technology officer, attended one or two OpenAI nonprofit board meetings, Taylor said.
—Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 12 May 2026
Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 11 May 2026
So Jay Elliot, Apple’s human resources chief, brought John to Steve’s office to hash things out.
—Geoffrey Cain, Vanity Fair, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for chief
Adjective
Popular web sketch comedy company Smosh has hired former MTV Entertainment Studios exec Cory Midgarden as the brand’s first-ever chief content officer.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 12 May 2026
Templeton, today a Microsoft corporate vice president and deputy chief technology officer, attended one or two OpenAI nonprofit board meetings, Taylor said.
—Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 12 May 2026
Noun
Instagram keeps a close relationship with fashion, tapping former Lucky editor-in-chief Eva Chen as head of partnerships.
—Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 11 May 2026
So Jay Elliot, Apple’s human resources chief, brought John to Steve’s office to hash things out.
—Geoffrey Cain, Vanity Fair, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for chief
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chief
Adjective
-
Plenty of helpful signs are posted throughout, and main paths traverse the park.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
-
This intersection between kitchens and spirits spills over from main courses into desserts too.—
Carinne Geil Botta,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
Attacks on our bodies and identities are happening now.—
Payton Turkeltaub,
Variety,
13 May 2026
-
James is just returning from yet another hamstring injury, and there have to be serious concerns over whether his body can handle the demands of a major tournament.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
The detentions come after a handful of other arrests months earlier, but Fúnez has long been pinpointed by local environmental and religious leaders as the man who spearheaded the assassination.—
Marlon González,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
-
Unlike other Western leaders—and the foreign-policy establishment in Washington—Sánchez sees China in more pragmatic terms rather than as necessarily a strategic rival.—
Ishaan Tharoor,
New Yorker,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
Cochran gave Bradley credit for that London show and many more that followed, putting him together with Noël Coward, the young George Balanchine, and the man who would become the foremost progenitor of ballet in Britain, Frederick Ashton.—
Brian Seibert,
New Yorker,
13 May 2026
-
And there’s no one better to portray that than Drucker, who has become one of our foremost portrayers of women on the edge.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
Social engagement, community involvement, and faith in the structures that organize daily life are among the study’s core predictors of whether an older adult feels their life has meaning—and all of them depend, at least in part, on trust.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
14 May 2026
-
Creating pieces that make women feel comfortable and confident through every stage of motherhood has always been at the core of Bumpsuit.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
In his first title race against Manchester City, there was a reluctance from the Arsenal boss to make changes at key moments that sapped momentum away from his side.—
Art de Roché,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
-
As Jones informed Moore of the selection, the 6-foot-3, 198-pound outside corner made a bold proclamation to his new boss.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
Daniella Segura Click the link below for the USA TODAY Network's California June primary voter guide — registration deadline, ballot drop boxes, early voting, and how to track your ballot through Election Day.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
-
Meanwhile, about a kilometre away, workers began clearing debris from the old site of the primary-care center, making room for a permanent replacement.—
Clayton Dalton,
New Yorker,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
Xi’s expected to be a commanding presence as host, opposite a US president known more for relying on gut instinct than meticulous preparation.—
Sylvie Zhuang,
CNN Money,
13 May 2026
-
Senior midfielder Meghan O’Donnell, who scored her eighth goal of the season during Libertyville’s 3-2 win over Waubonsie Valley on Thursday, said Chung is a commanding presence.—
Bobby Narang,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Chief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chief. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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