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
Carlie Kollath Wells, Axios, 11 Feb. 2025
Pepper the mini chocolate dachshund was also sworn in as the mayor's chief deputy.
—Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY, 1 Feb. 2025
Dan Mangan, CNBC, 14 Feb. 2025
The acting chief, three deputy chiefs and a deputy assistant attorney general in the criminal division who oversaw the section resigned, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss personnel matters.
—Larry Neumeister, TIME, 14 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for chief 
Adjective
What's next: The city's chief administrative officer, the city attorney and the school board's interim superintendent are on Tuesday's agenda to speak.
—Carlie Kollath Wells, Axios, 11 Feb. 2025
Pepper the mini chocolate dachshund was also sworn in as the mayor's chief deputy.
—Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY, 1 Feb. 2025
Noun
Within hours of Sassoon quitting, Keller, the three other Public Integrity Section prosecutors, and the DOJ’s acting criminal division chief Kevin Driscoll, all resigned rather than execute Bove’s order.
—Dan Mangan, CNBC, 14 Feb. 2025
The acting chief, three deputy chiefs and a deputy assistant attorney general in the criminal division who oversaw the section resigned, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss personnel matters.
—Larry Neumeister, TIME, 14 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for chief
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chief
Adjective
-
There will be new actors playing the series’ main characters, but no one has been cast yet.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2025
-
Research shows that there are three main reasons why migrants die trying to reach the U.S. from Mexico.—
Marni LaFleur,
The Conversation,
11 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Ford was also observed the day after the murders with scratches on his body.—
Mollie Markowitz,
Fox News,
14 Feb. 2025
-
With the body parts still missing, Echevarria’s daughter can’t help but imagine that her father is still out there, alive and well.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
14 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
There is a general sense of unease among industry insiders about what’s to come, the speed with which Trump has enacted sweeping executive orders across the federal government — and the seeming buy-in from corporate leaders — and how that all could influence future creative content.—
Samantha Masunaga,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2025
-
The awards program recognizes outstanding educational leaders throughout California who are making significant contributions to their schools, districts and communities.—
Del Mar Times,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Before becoming one of America’s foremost historians, a Pulitzer Prize winner and writer of seminal books on Abraham Lincoln (a basis for the Steven Spielberg film Lincoln), Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Teddy Roosevelt and Johnson, Kearns Goodwin became a White House Fellow under LBJ.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
14 Feb. 2025
-
At his death in 1996, he was considered one of the country’s foremost historians of the Black experience in America.—
Jeffrey Boutwell,
Baltimore Sun,
12 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Wine finishes can go quickly overboard, leaving the whiskey with an abundance of big, fruity, tannic notes that overpower its core identity.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
16 Feb. 2025
-
As downtown continues to navigate the post-pandemic era and stakeholders reimagine what an urban core can and should be, new projects are helping build that future.—
Matthew Glowicki,
The Courier-Journal,
16 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Baseball ops boss David Stearns constructed a team of players that appear to have the character the Mets are looking for, something Lindor views as a potential strength of the 2025 squad.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
15 Feb. 2025
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On top of that, Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy and co. are no longer bound by Disney’s pre-2019 mandate of releasing a new Star Wars movie every year.—
Brian Davids,
The Hollywood Reporter,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Reclaimed white pine flooring by the Hudson Company stands in handsome contrast to board-and-batten paneling in the primary bathroom, where the tub is by Randolph Morris.—
Elizabeth Fazzare,
Architectural Digest,
17 Feb. 2025
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Testers considered performance across four primary categories: efficacy, texture and experience, fragrance, and packaging.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
17 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Halftime report The Kings only trailed by eight following a 3-pointer by Fox with 7:58 to play in the second quarter, but the Thunder staged a 21-6 run to take a commanding lead.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacramento Bee,
2 Feb. 2025
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Boston outscored Chicago 41-28, led by as many as 19 points and took a commanding 68-51 lead into halftime.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
30 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near chief
Cite this Entry
“Chief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chief. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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