chief synonyms

chief

modif.

leading, main, foremost; see principal. See syn. study at principal.

chief

n.

  1. The outstanding person or thing

    leader, head, principal, manager, boss, overseer, governor, president, foreman, proprietor, supervisor, superior, director, chair, chairman, ringleader, general, master, dictator, superintendent, ruler, captain, commander, big shot*, brass hat*, higher-up*, bigwig*, big wheel*, big cheese*; high muck-a-muck*, head honcho*, número uno* (Spanish), prima donna*, triton among minnows*, the only pebble on the beach*, the biggest frog in the puddle*; see also administrator, leader 2.

    Antonyms subordinate, underling, retainer.

  2. A chieftain

    ruler, prince, master, sachem, sagamore, emperor, duke, majesty, monarch, overlord, suzerain, lord, potentate, sovereign, chieftain, headman, elder, Maharaja, sahib, Rajah, boyar, effendi, emir, sheik, pasha; see also king 1, ruler 1.

Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.