1
as in bodies
the main or greater part of something as distinguished from its subordinate parts
the chief of the estate was left to the eldest son
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in leaders
the person (as an employer or supervisor) who tells people and especially workers what to do
our chief is out on a business trip right now
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of chiefs
Film festival chiefs from around the world have signed a joint statement in support of Berlin Film Festival boss Tricia Tuttle, whose future will be debated at a meeting of its governing body tomorrow in Berlin.
—
Leo Barraclough, Variety, 3 Mar. 2026
Everyone—from bankers to studio chiefs—will keep guessing what counts as market power when the biggest player in streaming never had to test its limits in court.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2026
Last night’s event was attended by content chiefs at the BBC and Channel 4.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 26 Feb. 2026
Certain district staff did not receive sufficient budget training, especially new chiefs and department heads within central office.
—Kathryn Muchnick, Louisville Courier Journal, 26 Feb. 2026
Current and former intelligence officers and spy chiefs say that as important as that stuff is, the satellite stuff, the AI stuff, the human aspect of this work, interpreting the data, forming relationships on the ground, all that is equally important and necessary.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 26 Feb. 2026
Stitt had advocated for the changes, saying agency chiefs reported to unelected boards and commissions, rather than the governor, who is elected and runs the executive branch.
—Barbara Hoberock, Oklahoman, 25 Feb. 2026
In total, 15 fire engines, eight tenders, and seven chiefs and other support was present from mutual aid departments, according to the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control.
—CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
Also in Geneva will be American, Russian and Ukrainian military chiefs, who will discuss how a ceasefire monitoring might work after any peace deal, and what's needed to implement it, the person said.
—ABC News, 17 Feb. 2026
Leo Barraclough, Variety, 3 Mar. 2026
Everyone—from bankers to studio chiefs—will keep guessing what counts as market power when the biggest player in streaming never had to test its limits in court.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2026
Last night’s event was attended by content chiefs at the BBC and Channel 4.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 26 Feb. 2026
Certain district staff did not receive sufficient budget training, especially new chiefs and department heads within central office.
—Kathryn Muchnick, Louisville Courier Journal, 26 Feb. 2026
Current and former intelligence officers and spy chiefs say that as important as that stuff is, the satellite stuff, the AI stuff, the human aspect of this work, interpreting the data, forming relationships on the ground, all that is equally important and necessary.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 26 Feb. 2026
Stitt had advocated for the changes, saying agency chiefs reported to unelected boards and commissions, rather than the governor, who is elected and runs the executive branch.
—Barbara Hoberock, Oklahoman, 25 Feb. 2026
In total, 15 fire engines, eight tenders, and seven chiefs and other support was present from mutual aid departments, according to the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control.
—CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
Also in Geneva will be American, Russian and Ukrainian military chiefs, who will discuss how a ceasefire monitoring might work after any peace deal, and what's needed to implement it, the person said.
—ABC News, 17 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chiefs
Noun
-
By combining the guidance kit with different bomb bodies, militaries can create several JDAM variants with different payloads and effects.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Mar. 2026
-
The revolving door of available bodies on a nightly basis caused by injuries will allow Dallas to get a good look at Poulakidas, an undrafted guard who attended Yale, and Smith, a second-year forward from Houston.—
Mike Curtis,
Dallas Morning News,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Trade negotiators from both sides are reportedly slated to meet in mid-March to lay the groundwork for the leaders’ summit.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Tottenham are drifting, and need to find leaders somewhere, or their season will end in the ignominy of a first relegation in 49 years.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Economists said the tame core CPI readings were unlikely to translate into moderate core PCE inflation gains in February because of different weights and unexpected strength in services prices in the January Producer Price Index report.—
Reuters
Wire Service,
Dallas Morning News,
11 Mar. 2026
-
So pushing with my back foot, all my weights on my front foot.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
One fateful day when the newsroom was short-staffed, bosses asked the green college student to step in.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
6 Mar. 2026
-
They were frustrated when the bosses announced Guthrie would be coming back, but at an unknown date.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The key innovation in this motor lies in the use of amorphous steel, a material that differs from conventional electrical steels commonly used in motor cores.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Instead, those urban cores are left to cope with the church’s growing absence.—
David Swanson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
For years after that, TCU alums who had served as Ranch Week foremen or queen would proudly include it on resumes, in professional biographies or when running for office.—
Matt Leclercq,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The Chicago Blackhawks traded away three veteran captains this week.—
Kalen Lumpkins,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
-
The Strait of Hormuz isn’t completely closed as several daring ship captains have risked attacks from Iran to transport cargoes through the narrow Persian Gulf waterway, with some claiming to be Chinese.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In addition, wartime food security concerns could spark some countries to stock up on staples like wheat.—
Hallie Gu,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Shop more of my mom’s favorites on Amazon and refresh your staples ahead of spring.—
Annie Blackman,
InStyle,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Chiefs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chiefs. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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