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
Tea was consumed chiefly in private; Mother poured out.
—
Jane Kamensky, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
Martin, whose first language is Swedish, is chiefly concerned with melody.
—Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
Today’s cinephiles remember Warren Beatty, age 88, chiefly for the suspense of Bonnie & Clyde (1967) but forget his intellectually demanding drama Reds (1981).
—Peter Bart, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2025
Max & Helen’s is chiefly inspired by Maine’s Palace Diner, which is widely noted for its elevation of comfort-food staples.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chiefly
Jane Kamensky, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
Martin, whose first language is Swedish, is chiefly concerned with melody.
—Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
Today’s cinephiles remember Warren Beatty, age 88, chiefly for the suspense of Bonnie & Clyde (1967) but forget his intellectually demanding drama Reds (1981).
—Peter Bart, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2025
Max & Helen’s is chiefly inspired by Maine’s Palace Diner, which is widely noted for its elevation of comfort-food staples.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chiefly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chiefly
Adverb
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The group, mainly millennials and young Gen Xers, grew up in the internet era and recognize how technology can switch up the status quo.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
9 Nov. 2025
-
The Western Apache were mainly foragers and hunters, Roos said.—
Sarah Henry,
AZCentral.com,
9 Nov. 2025
Adverb
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Her clients also tend to be young, mostly Gen Z and millennials.—
Gili Malinsky,
CNBC,
6 Nov. 2025
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Rescuers in the Philippines were still searching for more than 100 people missing, mostly in widespread flooding in central provinces.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Adverb
-
Aspire Capitol Heights is a TK-8 charter school which enrolls about 220 primarily Black and socioeconomically disadvantaged students, only half of which reside in Sacramento City Unified district boundaries.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
8 Nov. 2025
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The disruptions are primarily caused by air traffic controller staffing and the FAA order, but also include unrelated flight cuts.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
Adverb
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These are questions about their goaltending that the Leafs largely didn’t have last season.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
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In a novel that is so alert to where climate change is leading the world, a narrative frame that illustrates migration as linear and largely redemptive feels anachronistic.—
Tope Folarin,
The Atlantic,
8 Nov. 2025
Adverb
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Liege Airport, used principally as a cargo hub, was also closed due to drone sightings, an airport spokesperson said.—
Reuters,
CNN Money,
4 Nov. 2025
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In simple terms, the fund raises money, principally via debt, then passes it along to Barcelona for use on the build.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
Adverb
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This predominantly white oak home follows suit, with strikingly—and soothingly—little deviation.—
Kathryn Romeyn,
Architectural Digest,
7 Nov. 2025
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For example, ads for mechanic positions were predominantly shown to men, while those for preschool teacher roles were primarily directed to women.—
Carlotta Dotto,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Chiefly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chiefly. Accessed 26 Nov. 2025.
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