1
as in main
coming before all others in importance
our chief priority this year will be cutting the budget
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in presiding
highest in rank or authority
the chief administrator will be retiring soon
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in body
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in leader
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
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
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 chief
Katherine Fung, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
Every $10 rise in oil prices bumps up headline inflation by roughly 0.4 percentage points and cuts economic growth by roughly 0.1 percentage point, Douglas Porter, chief economist at BMO Capital, estimated.
—Medora Lee, USA Today, 24 June 2025
Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 14 June 2025
Nichols' family is suing the five officers, the city of Memphis and the police chief for $550 million.
—Arkansas Online, 14 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for chief
Adjective
Daniel Danker, the chief product officer at Instacart, was among the early risers at the venue.
—Katherine Fung, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
Every $10 rise in oil prices bumps up headline inflation by roughly 0.4 percentage points and cuts economic growth by roughly 0.1 percentage point, Douglas Porter, chief economist at BMO Capital, estimated.
—Medora Lee, USA Today, 24 June 2025
Noun
Every so often, the bleary-eyed budget chiefs, Sen. Ed Hooper of Palm Harbor and Rep. Lawrence McClure of Dover, appeared publicly for brief meetings in the state Capitol to ratify decisions that had already made in private.
—Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 14 June 2025
Nichols' family is suing the five officers, the city of Memphis and the police chief for $550 million.
—Arkansas Online, 14 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for chief
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chief
Adjective
-
Facing a harbor filled with sailboats, Avalon is the island's main tourist hub, and where most tourists will stay, from hotels such as the century-old Hotel Atwater to Airbnbs.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
24 June 2025
-
The 18th Street gang has around 30,000 to 50,000 members, with its main source of income being distribution of cocaine and marijuana.—
Sophia Compton , Bill Melugin,
FOXNews.com,
24 June 2025
Adjective
-
Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders.—
Sindhu Bhaskar,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
-
Lindell was one of the foremost conspiracy theorists in pushing claims that the election was stolen from Donald Trump.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
16 June 2025
Adjective
-
The major-party candidates in the race for governor are already set; neither faced a serious primary challenge.—
Margaret Barthel,
NPR,
17 June 2025
-
They will be required to start recording the boxes on the first day absentee ballots are issued for an election or primary and continue recording until the town clerk retrieves the last ballots.—
Gabby DeBenedictis,
Hartford Courant,
17 June 2025
Adjective
-
Despite its commanding presence, the Navigator doesn’t drive like a tank.—
Victoria Uwumarogie,
Essence,
17 June 2025
-
The 1794 doesn’t have what was expected, a commanding road presence.—
James Raia,
Mercury News,
16 June 2025
Adjective
-
The barrage led Israel’s defense minister to overtly threaten Iran’s supreme leader. Israel, meanwhile, struck Iran’s heavy water reactor, part of the country’s nuclear program, which its government insists is meant for peaceful purposes only.—
Elena Becatoros,
Chicago Tribune,
20 June 2025
-
Now, with Israel taking out some of his closest aides and senior security figures, as well as significantly weakening its militant Islamic allies across the region, the supreme leader is beginning to look increasingly isolated.—
Ruth Marks Eglash,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2025
Adjective
-
The June 10 vote by the nation’s largest Protestant denomination represents a doubling down on issues of gender and sexuality as the predominant group of evangelical Christians signals the SBC’s hopes of replicating the successful campaign to overturn Roe v. Wade.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
12 June 2025
-
The predominant toxin associated with FHB infections in the United States is deoxynivalenol (DON), which is also known as vomitoxin because consumption can cause vomiting.—
Rebekah Riess,
CNN Money,
4 June 2025
Adjective
-
Case Western Reserve/Cleveland Play House CLEVELAND The MFA program works closely with the professional Cleveland Play House, offering all students principal roles there and giving them admission into Actors’ Equity.—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
23 June 2025
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Clearly, Desert Storm represents a successful example of using airpower as the principal instrument of war, with ground forces in a supporting role.—
David A. Deptula,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
Adjective
-
The opening two days and five games of the Club World Cup have witnessed a 10-goal thumping, a dominant performance from Europe’s champions, struggles for the best from the U.S., passionate fans on the streets and reasonable attendances in the stadiums.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
16 June 2025
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Signet, dominant in bridal jewelry, sees greater potential in the larger fashion segment.—
Pamela N. Danziger,
Forbes.com,
16 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Chief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chief. Accessed 29 Jun. 2025.
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