chiefly

adverb

ˈchē-flē How to pronounce chiefly (audio)
Definition of chieflynext
as in mainly
for the most part our video collection consists chiefly of comedies, but we have a few horror movies

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 chiefly Larson has clashed chiefly with Bronin — rather than his other two opponents — during the campaign. — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 28 June 2026 Some industrials are going higher, chiefly non-data-center ones. — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 28 June 2026 Tom’s journey to happiness (and, chiefly, Mary) also held another personal element for Quintrell. — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 24 June 2026 But the accord already faces threats, chiefly from Lebanon, with the fighting there leading to a delay in the start of talks planned for Friday in Switzerland. — Arkansas Online, 20 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for chiefly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chiefly
  1. mainly
  2. mostly
  3. primarily
  4. largely
  5. principally
  6. predominantly
Adverb
  • Drafted as a running back, Hawthorne served mainly as a backup, amassing 527 career rushing yards and seven touchdowns.
    — Jim Barnes July 11, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 July 2026
  • Relations between the Malian military junta and Algeria began to deteriorate two years ago, when Mali ended a crucial 2015 peace deal with local Azawad separatists, mainly mediated by Algeria.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 July 2026
Definition of mainly
Adverb
  • Iran exported roughly 50 million barrels of crude oil in June, mostly through its shadow fleet, according to an analysis by TankerTrackers.
    — Helen Regan, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
  • So far in the season, Gen has mostly landed on the wrong side of the audience’s favor.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 14 July 2026
Definition of mostly
Adverb
  • Their tropical cocktails and frozen delights are easily crushable, primarily made with vodka, mezcal, rum and tequila.
    — Blair Crosby, AJC.com, 5 July 2026
  • Although Chicago had its issues with redlining and massive disinvestment that left generational scars on some primarily Black neighborhoods, the small town ethos held little sway over me.
    — Dawn M. Turner, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
Definition of primarily
Adverb
  • Giselle Garcia, program director for NorCal Resist, said the arrest data largely tracks with the organization’s own informal counts though emphasized much enforcement goes unaccounted for if families aren’t willing to speak up.
    — Mathew Miranda July 9, Sacbee.com, 10 July 2026
  • During the war, as the death toll ticked upward in the enclave, search operations for bodies largely stopped, either because most heavy equipment was destroyed, fuel became scarce or many strike sites became inaccessible due to the fighting.
    — Bilal Shbeir, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
Definition of largely
Adverb
  • Oppenheimer’s note was principally focused, fitting for a global strategist, on how equity returns will be reshaped in a new regime.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 17 June 2026
  • The laser targeted one of three ground stations, principally NASA's White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Table Mountain Facility in California, with a third, experimental ground station at the Australian National University's Mount Stromlo Observatory.
    — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 15 June 2026
Definition of principally
Adverb
  • In Boxtown, the predominantly Black neighborhood closest to the facility, the cancer risk already runs four times the national average.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 15 July 2026
  • Lucky’s initial escape through a casino floor is shot predominantly in midrange close-ups, with no experimentation in building tension through unexpected compositions or cuts.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 15 July 2026
Definition of predominantly

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chief justices
chiefly
chiefs
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Cite this Entry

“Chiefly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chiefly. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on chiefly

Nglish: Translation of chiefly for Spanish Speakers

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