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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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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

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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
Sean Parnell, chief spokesman for the Pentagon, pushed Congress to act faster. — Max Tani, semafor.com, 22 July 2026 The statement was posted on the official website of the State Council Information Office of China (SCIO), the chief information office of the Chinese government. — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 22 July 2026
Noun
Deputy Chief Jason Petersen served briefly as interim chief before the city brought in Doug Brinkley to temporarily fill that role in September last year. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 21 July 2026 His six-month tenure as defense minister coincided with Ukraine’s recent success on the battlefield – and so his removal, amid disagreements with Syrskyi, caused a backlash against the military chief. — Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 21 July 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
  • Also, the arena operates with one main kitchen; the hope is to have kitchens on all three levels to enhance fans’ concession experience.
    — Jason Quick, New York Times, 20 July 2026
  • Tourism – the island’s main economic lifeline – was down 58% in the first five months of 2026 compared with the year before.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 19 July 2026
Definition of main
Adjective
  • The executions have drawn attention to the ageing death-row population in the US, as well as Florida’s status as the foremost death penalty state.
    — Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 16 July 2026
  • Among the most significant was the signing of a Letter of Intent between the Bharat Tex Trade Federation (BTTF) and Première Vision Paris, one of the world’s foremost textile and fashion sourcing platforms.
    — Mayu Saini, Footwear News, 15 July 2026
Definition of foremost
Noun
  • Another photo showed blue plastic fragments embedded in a knee, which prosecutors maintain are from an inflatable pool d4vd allegedly used while dismembering the body.
    — Jason Kravarik, CNN Money, 25 July 2026
  • The statute defines clothing as articles of wearing apparel worn on the human body.
    — Zuri Primos July 25, Kansas City Star, 25 July 2026
Definition of body
Noun
  • About 150 protesters were taken to hospital with injuries following Monday’s violence, according to leaders of the party behind the protests.
    — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
  • While Wyscout is the industry leader for video scouting tools in football, Eyeball has, since forming in 2020, established itself as the youth football equivalent across the globe.
    — Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 22 July 2026
Definition of leader
Adjective
  • Because, as a one-off measure, FIFA would not have been the primary beneficiary.
    — Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • Detectives identified Stevenson Tuimavave as the primary suspect and obtained warrants for his arrest and a search of his home, police said.
    — Molly Gibbs, Mercury News, 21 July 2026
Definition of primary
Adjective
  • The Mariners now sit a game and a half behind the Rangers, who have more of a commanding lead of the American League West.
    — Cal Phillips Updated July 24, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 July 2026
  • Edwards, who had been the commanding officer of HSC-5 since July 2025, was posthumously promoted to captain, the Navy said in a statement.
    — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 9 July 2026
Definition of commanding
Noun
  • Two months later, the Warriors appear only slightly better simply because their main core has had time to heal this offseason.
    — Mark Medina, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
  • But as much as Warriors owner Joe Lacob feels indebted to Curry, the Warriors have to face the reality that this core’s best days are long behind them now.
    — Nick Friedell, New York Times, 25 July 2026
Definition of core
Noun
  • His former bosses, Matt LaFleur and Sean McVay, tend to fill H-back roles with non-traditional fullbacks.
    — Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 24 July 2026
  • James Goldston, the veteran doc producer and Candle True Stories boss, this week reflected on making two documentaries about the late Michael Jackson.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 24 July 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 26 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on chief

Nglish: Translation of chief for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about chief

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