CHIEFLY Synonyms: 57 Similar and Opposite Words

chiefly

adverb

ˈchē-flē

Definition of chiefly

as in mainly

for the most part our video collection consists chiefly of comedies, but we have a few horror movies

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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 chiefly That would mean that repetition, rather than representation, is chiefly at stake—a hypnotic ritual. — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026 Many of the dozens missing in its environs were foreign nationals, chiefly Indian or Indian-origin pilgrims who were returning from, or preparing to make, the journey further into Tibet to Mount Kailash, a holy site for Hindus and Buddhists. — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026 Beyond overall car performance, a pressing concern for Cadillac this year has been reliability, chiefly recurring brake overheating issues (below). — Luke Smith, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026 That led to cycles of reform and renovation, as well as backlash, chiefly from cultural conservatives, who saw the adoption of western European habits and attitudes as abominable and even heretical. — Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for chiefly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for chiefly

Adverb

His reliance on the cane has slowed him down, so Crouch has shifted roles, from field hand to recruiter, operating mainly as the guy behind the keyboard, lining up volunteers to plant, scout, harvest and build the next nursery.

— Jessie Schiewe, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026
Potting soils have not contained soil from the ground for years, and have been mainly combinations of peat moss, perlite and vermiculite.

— Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of mainly

Adverb

The rest of the women have pretty much accepted Vicki’s temperament by now and mostly operate around her, enjoying the refreshing Miami energy after the bumpiness of the previous parties.

— Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026
The film’s cast is mostly made up of tribal non-actors, but Anghlong Konyak is its captivating center, as a man whose stubbornness against change sits alongside a lingering grief over his fading way of life.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of mostly

Adverb

The culprits are Aedes aegypti, primarily daytime biters that thrive in urban and suburban areas and breed in flowerpots, buckets and other smaller containers, said Steve Harrison, manager of Orange County Mosquito Control.

— Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Sep. 2026
Zeek Biggers has worked as a six-technique defensive end, primarily playing on obvious running downs.

— Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of primarily

Adverb

She’s haunted by her divorce from Donn, and her greatest fear is being alone, which is becoming more and more of a real possibility, especially since her family has largely moved away.

— Tom Smyth, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026
Kai-Fu Lee’s AI Superpowers, an influential book published in 2018, largely predicted the current tech battle between the US and China.

— Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of largely

Adverb

Federal regulators already treat it differently from many other digital assets, and the legislation was principally intended to create a broader framework governing how cryptocurrencies are issued, sold and regulated.

— Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Sep. 2026
Asking an 18- or 21-year-old athlete to sacrifice some portion of a present opportunity for an uncertain benefit that may principally accrue to someone else five or 10 years in the future is an inherently difficult organizing proposition.

— Chris Corr, Sportico.com, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of principally

Adverb

In the end, the winners were predominantly white and the speeches were inarguably neutral.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2026
Biomass power, predominantly generated by burning wood, is growing globally as countries accelerate their transition to use cleaner energy.

— ABC News, ABC News, 13 Sep. 2026

Definition of predominantly

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chief justices

chiefly

chiefs

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“Chiefly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chiefly. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of chiefly

adverb

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