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Definitions

chief

[cheef] / tʃif /
ADJECTIVE
most important, essential
Synonyms
STRONGEST
leading main preeminent prime principal
STRONG
arch capital cardinal central champion first grand head key major premier primary ruling star superior telling
WEAK
consequential controlling crucial effective especial foremost highest momentous number one outstanding paramount potent predominant primal significant stellar supreme uppermost vital weighty
Antonyms
STRONGEST
auxiliary extra inferior minor secondary subordinate unimportant
STRONG
bad inessential insignificant lower nonessential poor
WEAK
unnecessary
NOUN
person in charge
Synonyms
STRONGEST
captain commander director head leader manager ruler superintendent supervisor
STRONG
President bigwig boss chieftain dictator foreperson general governor honcho monarch overlord overseer principal proprietor ringleader sovereign suzerain
WEAK
big cheese big gun big wheel head honcho head person key player top brass top cat
Antonyms
STRONGEST
employee follower
WEAK
apprentice servant subordinate underling worker

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

One auto chief executive, Matt McAlear, took the stage at the New York International Auto Show to make a bold declaration: “We’re here to make things people didn’t see coming.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

After finishing the accelerator program, which counts OpenAI chief Sam Altman among its graduates, Rhodes-Kropf, 21, raised $5 million for his defense tech startup, SalesPatriot.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

The show and its team now fall under the responsibility of OpenAI's public affairs chief Chris Lehane, a veteran Washington lobbyist who made his name handling scandals for the Clinton administration.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

"We want to make the Graham Norton of video games," says Kirsty Rigden, the chief executive of Brighton-based FuturLab, which makes PowerWash Simulator.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

Klavdiya Ilushina, the regiment’s chief engineer, was staying with a local family who’d made her a delicious Easter dinner that included eggs and cake.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.