CHIEFLY Synonyms: 57 Similar and Opposite Words

chiefly

adverb

ˈchē-flē

Definition of chiefly

as in mainly

for the most part our video collection consists chiefly of comedies, but we have a few horror movies

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of chiefly Building a network is capital intensive, requiring continuous, steady investment in both towers and spectrum —- drawing capital away from businesses that investors more richly reward, chiefly AI. — Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 29 July 2026 But this is surely the least fabled World Cup in history, and remembered chiefly for the political tensions shortly before the following year’s outbreak of the Second World War. — Michael Cox, New York Times, 23 July 2026 The complaint says Salle’s 2025 painting shares the works’ pose, perspective, clothing, and overall visual impression, differing chiefly in that its subject holds an axe instead of a sledgehammer. — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 8 July 2026 The Castro family has been linked, through GAESA chiefly, to a lucrative world of hotels, banks, retail monopolies, foreign-currency businesses, foreign private compounds and offshore accounts. — Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for chiefly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for chiefly

Adverb

The market is still concentrated right now, with US consumers mainly seeing sun-protective clothing in trendy athleisure – think Lululemon, REI and Nike.

— Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
Garlic Garlic is a superfood that’s been used for medicinal purposes for centuries, mainly due to its natural immune-supporting properties.

— Lindsay Curtis, HEALTH, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of mainly

Adverb

Mastering the clipping economy Some of Ossoff’s newfound fans know him mostly from clips — one or two-minute-long videos that travel wide and far on social media platforms.

— Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
But critics say the president has not met those expectations and has become unpopular among many of Nigeria's mostly young voters.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of mostly

Adverb

The Army's most significant response has been the Future Soldier Preparatory Course, a pre-basic training program primarily at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, for recruits who narrowly miss academic or body-fat standards.

— Steven Beynon, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
Hancock, who flashed high-level plays last year as a safety, has primarily played as a nickel corner in Leonhard’s new scheme.

— Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of primarily

Adverb

The economic outlook is also largely positive despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

— Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 21 Aug. 2026
Other sailors described to CNN conditions unlike their previous deployments, largely because of the war, which stopped the ship from making stops at friendly ports.

— Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of largely

Adverb

Trade along the route remains tiny compared with major throughways like the Suez Canal and is dominated by Russian oil and gas, which – along with a few other LNG buyers in Asia – principally flow to China.

— Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
Some Hoodoo practitioners have begun calling themselves witches, reflecting the increasingly positive reassessment of that term, which historically referred principally to practitioners of occult harming practices.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of principally

Adverb

Another complaint has been that the newspaper has been mostly an aggregator of news instead of providing predominantly original news.

— Jennifer Jacobs, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
The participants were predominantly White healthcare professionals, meaning the findings need to be confirmed across diverse populations, the team acknowledged.

— Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of predominantly

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chief justices

chiefly

chiefs

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“Chiefly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chiefly. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of chiefly

adverb

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