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

There, the war stoked longtime secessionist sentiments, fronted chiefly by the Southern Transitional Council -- a bloc that until 2025 held sway in the south and was backed by the United Arab Emirates. — David Brennan, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026

The record was chiefly produced by Jepsen mainstay Kyle Shearer, who provides Day and Night‘s most danceable tracks, while Bullion, CJ Baran, Magnus Lidehäll, and more, make appearances too. — Jaeden Pinder, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2026

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