Synonyms of chiefly

chiefly

adverb

ˈchē-flē 

as in mainly

for the most part

our video collection consists chiefly of comedies, but we have a few horror movies

Synonyms & Similar Words

• mainly
• mostly
• primarily
• largely
• principally
• predominantly
• generally
• basically
• substantially
• partly
• usually
• in general
• normally
• typically
• commonly
• most
• on the whole
• partially
• altogether
• practically
• by and large
• broadly
• overall
• frequently
• virtually
• nearly
• approximately
• somewhat
• ordinarily
• roughly
• rather
• some
• more or less
• much
• next to
• well-nigh
• about
• nigh
• plus or minus
• near
• incompletely

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• entirely
• wholly
• fully
• completely
• thoroughly
• perfectly
• totally
• just
• scarcely
• hardly
• barely
• absolutely
• minimally
• marginally
• unqualifiedly
• categorically

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of chiefly

The findings may also illustrate a broader lack of retirement confidence among employees, experts said, in an era when Americans are expected to do their own retirement saving, chiefly through IRAs and 401(k)s. — Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2026

One unusual thing about the Dead is that the bulk of their oeuvre was penned by non-performing songwriters, chiefly Robert Hunter, who collaborated mainly with Jerry Garcia. — Diana Arterian, Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2026

Denise has also been keeping secrets, chiefly about the manuscript for a novel she’s been banging out on a typewriter in the basement, one that happens to be about a woman who fantasizes about leaving her family behind for life in New York. — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2026

Rochlin, who used to work in mosquito control, pointed out that his predecessors in New York were chiefly concerned with malaria. — Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 3 Aug. 2026