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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of chief
John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2025
Overwhelmed by the realization that NASA had not revealed the O-ring issue to astronauts, chief astronaut John Young sent a memo to the entire astronaut corps expressing his outrage.
—Alice George, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 July 2025
Rebecca Ellis
follow, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2025
Newcomers from India include 53-year-old Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, 57-year-old Microsoft chief Satya Nadella and 57-year-old Nikesh Arora, who has run cybersecurity company Palo Alto Networks since 2018.
—Matt Durot, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for chief
Adjective
One of the chief goals of the community survey is to achieve representative samples from all areas of the city, so library leadership can better understand the specific needs of the people of the city.
—John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2025
Overwhelmed by the realization that NASA had not revealed the O-ring issue to astronauts, chief astronaut John Young sent a memo to the entire astronaut corps expressing his outrage.
—Alice George, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 July 2025
Noun
The chief, who is known to bristle at direction from the board, said some of the improvements Hahn asked for were already happening.
—Rebecca Ellis
follow, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2025
Newcomers from India include 53-year-old Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, 57-year-old Microsoft chief Satya Nadella and 57-year-old Nikesh Arora, who has run cybersecurity company Palo Alto Networks since 2018.
—Matt Durot, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for chief
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chief
Adjective
-
The tournament grounds feature three main retail sites: the Centre Court Shop, the No. 1 Court Shop and the Museum Shop, along with five express shops and an additional nine kiosks.—
Tim Newcomb,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
-
Atrium Ljungberg, White Arkitekter A huge, new city is being built in Sweden, but it’s not being constructed using steel or concrete — its main building material is wood.—
Lucy Handley,
CNBC,
15 July 2025
Noun
-
Officers found the body covered by a garbage bag off the side of the road.—
Austin Hornbostel,
Nashville Tennessean,
20 July 2025
-
The body was first reported to 911 by a fisherman, who found it along of the banks of the creek between the two Northern Kentucky cities on July 18.—
Aaron Valdez,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
20 July 2025
Noun
-
Nigel Farage, the leader of the right-wing Reform UK party, slammed the Conservative and Labour parties after it was revealed this week thousands of Afghan refugees were secretly resettled into the country without the public's knowledge.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
20 July 2025
-
When speed and urgency matter, leaders and teams need solutions that reduce noise and enhance focus.—
Brent Gleeson,
Forbes.com,
19 July 2025
Adjective
-
Just as Russia has declined in its military might since the break-up of the Soviet Union a generation ago, Grossfeld says, its status as one of the globe’s foremost space powers has likewise slipped away.—
Kevin Holden Platt,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
-
But all that nuttiness took place a long time ago, under the influence, and, according to the world’s foremost Ozzy authority, such is not really the case.—
Erik Hedegaard,
Rolling Stone,
22 July 2025
Noun
-
We’d be better served, however, by understanding that at the core, both of these are fueled by and lead to dehumanization.—
Virgie Tovar,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
-
Before Peter Parker slung webs, before Hulk smashed, before there was Deadpool and Wolverine and Wakanda and mutants and infinity stones and cinematic universes — there was the core Four.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
22 July 2025
Noun
-
Marino ended up paying for the drugs himself to satisfy his boss, but then Butler asked him to move more contraband, leaving Marino in a precarious situation.—
Lynsey Eidell,
People.com,
22 July 2025
-
In an exclusive interview with Newsweek, Ross poured praise on his former boss's tariff plans, but said that the main challenge now will be reaching a fully fledged and durable agreement with China, and securing a trade deal with the European Union.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 July 2025
Adjective
-
No, corn sweat is not the primary cause behind the heat wave Cincinnati is experiencing this week.—
Grace Tucker,
The Enquirer,
24 July 2025
-
Last month’s mayoral primary election showed New Yorkers want their leaders to commit to bold transformative ideas.—
Tony Simone,
New York Daily News,
23 July 2025
Adjective
-
The Sox scored four in the fourth to take a commanding 9-0 lead.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
26 July 2025
-
And that one draw was only because two days were lost to rain at Old Trafford in Manchester when England were in a commanding position at a pivotal stage of the most recent Ashes series against Australia two years ago.—
Paul Newman,
New York Times,
12 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Chief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chief. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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