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
Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2025
At the brand’s fall 2025 show on Feb. 24, chief creative officer Daniel Lee sent coats, capes and trenches down the runway in the earthy dark browns, greens and burgundies pulled from the British countryside.
—Violet Goldstone, WWD, 7 Mar. 2025
Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2025
John Keller, the acting chief of the Justice Department's Public Integrity Section, and Kevin Driscoll, the acting head of the DOJ's criminal division, also swiftly resigned.
—Dave Lawler, Axios, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chief
Adjective
Arakawa died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a disease that attacks the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, Dr. Heather Jarrell, chief medical examiner at the New Mexico medical investigator’s office, said at a news conference.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2025
At the brand’s fall 2025 show on Feb. 24, chief creative officer Daniel Lee sent coats, capes and trenches down the runway in the earthy dark browns, greens and burgundies pulled from the British countryside.
—Violet Goldstone, WWD, 7 Mar. 2025
Noun
Kaja Kallas, the European Union's foreign policy chief, agreed with that assessment.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2025
John Keller, the acting chief of the Justice Department's Public Integrity Section, and Kevin Driscoll, the acting head of the DOJ's criminal division, also swiftly resigned.
—Dave Lawler, Axios, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chief
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chief
Adjective
-
My one and only visit was decades ago, in middle school, when my main priority was riding the roller coaster.—
Mariah Tyler,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2025
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In addition to a cozy and updated three-bedroom, 1,600-square-foot main home, there’s a small 19th-century cabin with a rock chimney still standing on the property.—
David Caraccio,
Sacramento Bee,
8 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The body was found after it had been moved to a trash can nearby, CNN reported, citing authorities.—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
People.com,
26 Feb. 2025
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American couple killed in Mexico, found shot in pickup truck The bodies of two Americans from California were found after they were shot to death in a pickup truck in Mexico, according to officials.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
Fox News,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
In a mid-January poll by Nanos, the Liberals trailed the opposition Conservatives and their leader Pierre Poilievre 47% to 20%.—
Rob Gillies,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Mar. 2025
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The protests have been slamming Tesla CEO Elon Musk — de facto leader of the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE — over his spearheading of the Trump administration’s government jobs- and funding-slashing agenda.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
9 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The biographical circumstances and the reddish tinge of the foremost prisoner’s hair have led commentators to interpret the image metaphorically, even solipsistically––the prisoner becomes a cipher for van Gogh, physically and psychologically incarcerated.—
Sarah C. Schaefer,
Artforum,
1 Mar. 2025
-
Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders.—
Christian Oberbeck,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Stand up straight with your shoulders back, core engaged, and natural spinal alignment.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
-
Teams offers many of the same core features of Skype, including one-on-one calls and group calls, messaging, and file sharing along with enhanced elements like hosting meetings, managing calendars, and building and joining communities for free.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Since Glossip’s 1998 conviction as the alleged orchestrator of a murder-for-hire scheme targeting his boss, Oklahoma City motel owner Barry Van Treese, a raft of issues with his prosecution has surfaced, coinciding with a shift of political winds now at the inmate’s back.—
Dakin Andone,
CNN,
28 Feb. 2025
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Before assuming your boss secretly hates you, take a step back.—
Adunola Adeshola,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The interface consists of selecting a primary tool and then a contextual menu at the bottom of the screen with the options for that tool.—
Julian Chokkattu,
WIRED,
1 Mar. 2025
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The money could give him a significant edge with just four months to go until the primary election.—
Gloria Pazmino,
CNN,
1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Boston committed 19 turnovers and looked a step slow in the paint (where Detroit owned a commanding 62-20 scoring edge) and in transition (29-8).—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
27 Feb. 2025
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Meanwhile, a poll conducted by WPA Intelligence between January 28 and 30 among 600 likely Republican primary voters gave Ramaswamy another commanding lead over his rivals, with 57 percent support compared to Yost's 26 percent.—
Matt Robison,
Newsweek,
25 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Chief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chief. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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