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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Recent Examples of chiefly
The essay needed to be written because no prominent voices are addressing the distinct possibility that Iran’s ethnics might secede, chiefly the larger ones with kin across borders.
—
Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
They can be summoned via the third-party app Honk, which chiefly is used by tow truck operators to find stranded customers.
—Michael Hiltzik Los Angeles Times, Arkansas Online, 18 Jan. 2026
This is the most profitable line of business for many banks, producing $120 billion in interest income and $162 billion in fees, chiefly those the card issuers impose on merchants.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2026
The performance is forceful enough for this Bug to operate chiefly as a character study.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chiefly
Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
They can be summoned via the third-party app Honk, which chiefly is used by tow truck operators to find stranded customers.
—Michael Hiltzik Los Angeles Times, Arkansas Online, 18 Jan. 2026
This is the most profitable line of business for many banks, producing $120 billion in interest income and $162 billion in fees, chiefly those the card issuers impose on merchants.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2026
The performance is forceful enough for this Bug to operate chiefly as a character study.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chiefly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chiefly
Adverb
-
Wednesday’s decision, based mainly on legal technicalities, notes that the company can propose a temporary increase for October 1 under its current investment plan.—
Nora O'Neill,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Feb. 2026
-
While the popularity of these app-blocking devices increases (Novelli said the company has sold more than 60,000), questions remain about their efficacy when the people who buy them are mainly discovering the devices through the internet—and talking about them on social media.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
13 Feb. 2026
Adverb
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Home to 710 stores and vendors, mostly Somali retailers serving Somali patrons, the mall was plastered with anti-ICE posters due to daily raids, according to Sabri.—
Yahya Salem,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
-
What has happened is that purely social get-togethers over meals now mostly take place in restaurants, and the procedures of expensive restaurants have come to be considered correct formal practices.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
16 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
They were primarily created for the domestic Korean market.—
Kati Chitrakorn,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
-
The performance, primarily in Spanish, was a celebration a celebration of Puerto Rican and Latin American culture.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
19 Feb. 2026
Adverb
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Freeman’s contract is already more than halfway complete, with time passing quickly and his production on the field largely remaining the same.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2026
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Oil’s bullish run in recent days is largely a reaction to worries Iran will restrict that supply.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
This rising use of AI has principally been spurred by the evolving advances and widespread adoption of generative AI.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The most common type of gallstone consists principally of cholesterol.—
Scott Lafee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Francis was well-known for his role as president of Xavier University in New Orleans, the nation’s only predominantly Black Catholic university.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
The Galaxy went into the offseason with a plan that centered predominantly on MLS acquisitions and shoring up a leaky backline that allowed 66 goals.—
Damian Calhoun,
Daily News,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Chiefly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chiefly. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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