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
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Recent Examples of chiefs
The response included two battalion chiefs, two ladder trucks and four fire engines, authorities said.
—
Molly Gibbs, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2026
But for one of Wall Street’s leading financial chiefs, the choice to wage war in the Middle East may actually have been an unavoidable one.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2026
Both cities, separated by only 40 miles, have seen a drastic change in the number of offenses, with politicians, state’s attorneys and police chiefs crediting their administrations and policies as the main drivers of the reductions.
—Stella Canino-Quinones, Baltimore Sun, 3 Apr. 2026
Elsewhere, Maggie Entenfellner, the columnist at Krone who is also one of the chiefs of Freunde der Tierecke, described Kathrin presenting another donation of 50,000 euros to a children’s organization.
—Simon Akam, Vanity Fair, 2 Apr. 2026
One day after Alex Pretti was shot and killed by federal agents in Minneapolis, the world’s largest group of police chiefs urged the White House to organize a sit-down with federal, state and local law enforcement leaders to better coordinate immigration enforcement and ensure community safety.
—Jeff Winter, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2026
Dulla Bhatti belonged to a family of local chiefs who rebelled against the Mughal authority by opposing land revenues and taxes.
—Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
The author argues that sheriffs should not have independent authority over ballots and election procedures, and calls for the state legislature to clarify sheriff powers by amending the constitution to make sheriffs appointed rather than elected, similar to police chiefs.
—Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2026
These measures are politically popular and ultra-wealthy Big Tech chiefs are easy villains.
—Catherine Thorbecke, Twin Cities, 28 Mar. 2026
Molly Gibbs, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2026
But for one of Wall Street’s leading financial chiefs, the choice to wage war in the Middle East may actually have been an unavoidable one.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2026
Both cities, separated by only 40 miles, have seen a drastic change in the number of offenses, with politicians, state’s attorneys and police chiefs crediting their administrations and policies as the main drivers of the reductions.
—Stella Canino-Quinones, Baltimore Sun, 3 Apr. 2026
Elsewhere, Maggie Entenfellner, the columnist at Krone who is also one of the chiefs of Freunde der Tierecke, described Kathrin presenting another donation of 50,000 euros to a children’s organization.
—Simon Akam, Vanity Fair, 2 Apr. 2026
One day after Alex Pretti was shot and killed by federal agents in Minneapolis, the world’s largest group of police chiefs urged the White House to organize a sit-down with federal, state and local law enforcement leaders to better coordinate immigration enforcement and ensure community safety.
—Jeff Winter, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2026
Dulla Bhatti belonged to a family of local chiefs who rebelled against the Mughal authority by opposing land revenues and taxes.
—Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
The author argues that sheriffs should not have independent authority over ballots and election procedures, and calls for the state legislature to clarify sheriff powers by amending the constitution to make sheriffs appointed rather than elected, similar to police chiefs.
—Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2026
These measures are politically popular and ultra-wealthy Big Tech chiefs are easy villains.
—Catherine Thorbecke, Twin Cities, 28 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chiefs
Noun
-
Over time, these nutrients move through storm systems and waterways into larger bodies of water such as lakes and ponds.—
Anthony Reardon,
Kansas City Star,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Animals’ entire bodies were preserved.—
Mindy Weisberger,
CNN Money,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Gables leaders have raised concerns during city meetings about the potential impact.—
Michelle Marchante,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
-
City leaders in Lake Dallas got more than an earful from residents who believe they were failed during a crisis in late March when a house explosion critically injured Jessica Bailey Lopez.—
Marvin Hurst,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Just steps away, the adjacent fitness center is well-equipped and even includes water weights.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Katzenback recommends four sets of five repetitions with heavy weights to stimulate bone growth.—
Hadia Zainab,
CNN Money,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
First, movies are workplaces, and Nirenberg’s interviewees reveal the stressful negotiations involved in the daily life of filmmaking—not only with executives and producers but also with directors, who, though employed by those very same businesspeople, are also the immediate bosses of the crew.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Parents and bosses might be a tad righteous or overbearing.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Innerspring mattresses have supportive cores made of metal coils and are topped with foam or other layers of padding.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The bombs’ nuclear warheads weren’t armed, but their plutonium cores were.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
3 Apr. 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
-
Top pitcher Madi DeLano stands out, while captains Avery Urlichman (first base) and Chloe Martin (second base) anchor the offense with outfielder Claire Roy.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
-
This is the latest installment of Crews on Cruise, a column spotlighting the people who work behind the scenes of the world’s most memorable voyages—from bartenders and entertainers to ship captains and expedition leaders.—
Ashlea Halpern,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Some are obvious travel staples, others are small but mighty upgrades that make the whole experience smoother, and all are budget-friendly.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Apr. 2026
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The market downturn put some stocks across the real estate, consumer staples, health care and technology sectors into oversold territory, positioning them for a potential rebound in the near term.—
Liz Napolitano,
CNBC,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Chiefs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chiefs. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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