Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

chieftain

[cheef-tuhn, -tin] / ˈtʃif tən, -tɪn /


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.

See Examples For:

The most straightforward, and successful, parts recount the 1836 abduction of a Mexican rancher’s wife named Camila by an Apache band led by the larger-than-life chieftain Mangas Coloradas.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 5, 2026

It was López Hernández who, while governor of Tabasco, appointed the alleged mob chieftain to the security post.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 5, 2025

Charity Adams, changed back to “Fort Lee,” I can only imagine how the SCV and others would respond to a re-renaming after any Lee other than their holy Confederate chieftain.

From Slate ● Feb. 12, 2025

For the past few months, as the mercenary chieftain Yevgeny V. Prigozhin escalated his feud with the Russian military, Mr. Putin did not publicly reveal any discomfort with his diatribes.

From New York Times ● Jun. 24, 2023

The tribal chieftain called for the boy, and presented him with fifty pieces of gold.

From "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho

The disconnect between slackening activity and the increasing yield has mystified even oil chieftains.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 17, 2026

Zero rates took the pressure off corporate chieftains to restructure, innovate, and take risks, as Japan Inc. did before QE arrived.

From Barron's ● Dec. 17, 2025

On the other hand, the possibly revolutionary impact from artificial intelligence argues that maybe it is still early days, no matter how abrasively these chieftains behave.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 5, 2025

Porter’s national prominence grew when, during congressional hearings, she grilled Trump administration officials and corporate chieftains using her whiteboard to make esoteric policy understandable.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 11, 2025

That night the house was full of light and noise, with people dressed as soldiers and queens and dancers and chieftains.

From "Ash" by Malinda Lo




Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training