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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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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
-
One of the book’s main themes is that trauma and damage, like red hair or skill with animals, can be handed down from one generation to the next.—
Chris Hewitt,
Boston Herald,
10 May 2026
-
Two smaller structures rise to six floors each, alongside the 20-story main tower.—
Adam Williams
May 09,
New Atlas,
9 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
-
That nickname cemented itself in the 1990s, when the team became one of baseball’s foremost powers, winning the division title year after year, reaching the World Series five times and winning in 1995, and producing five Hall of Fame players.—
Andrew Kirell,
CNN Money,
6 May 2026
-
His melding of blues, country, and gospel music placed him among the foremost pioneers of rockabilly and ultimately defined the genre of rock and roll.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
Retailers that effectively deploy AI in their physical stores recognize the human elements at the core of the in-person shopping experience.—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
7 May 2026
-
Wu’s office said the veterans department will continue to provide core services to all qualifying veterans and provide financial and medical assistance to qualifying veterans and their dependents with limited incomes for food, shelter, clothing, and medical care, as required by state law.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
7 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
-
Opponents hope to block the map from taking effect before congressional primary elections in August.—
Terry Collins,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
-
The primary election will be June 30.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
Few materials feel so commanding and permanent as concrete.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Chief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chief. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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