Chiefly, I want you to be more frank.
Source: tatoeba (24785)
Chiefly
Synonyms for "chiefly" (147 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (30)
Adverb(3 words)
a fortioriab initioab ovoaborigineaboveabove allall in allall the moreall things consideredalmost entirelyaltogetherapproximatelyas a ruleas a wholeas an approximationas per usualas things goas usualat firstat large
Adverb(1 words)
above all
Strong matches (44)
customarilydominantlyeffectuallyespeciallyessentiallyevenever sofirstfirst and foremostfirst of allfirst thingfirstlyfor all practical purposesfrom the beginninggenerallygenerally speakinghabituallyin chiefin generalin particular
Noun(5 words)
Adjective(2 words)
foremosthighest animal label
Adverb(2 words)
in the mainlargely german
Verb(1 words)
matters most
Determiner(2 words)
most animal tissuemost art movement
Related words (73)
Noun(16 words)
most chemistry homeworkmost conserved regionmost data copyingmost determiningmost essential datamost importantlymost management-team orientedmost of allmost policy movemost portuguese classmost state-levelmost substantiallymost third-estatemost three-digitmost written language developmentwhat mattered most
Determiner(15 words)
most combined energymost copyingmost criminal-codemost first-languagemost key-pointmost marine invertebratemost math worksheetsmost non greek lettermost number sensemost piano duetmost school communitymost water-systemmost watering canmost written-languagethe matter most
Adverb(6 words)
most oftenmostlynaturallynearlynever sono endnormallynormativelyon balanceon the wholeordinarilyoriginallyoverallpartparticularlypeculiarlypredominantlyprescriptivelyprevailinglyprimarily
Show 14 more words
primoprincipallyregularlyroughlyroughly speakingroutinelyrulespeaking generallystill moresubstantiallyto be expectedusuallyvirtuallyyea
Adverb(2 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: mainly, primarily, principally, a fortiori, ab initio.
- Sentence evidence is available for chiefly, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "chiefly".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "chiefly"
Keep "chiefly" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "chiefly" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "chiefly", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "chiefly" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
1 entriesadverb of degree
More specific
4 entriesdegree adverbsemphasis adverbsfocus adverbsmodal adverbs
Collocations
6 entrieschiefly becausechiefly bychiefly due tochiefly forchiefly inchiefly used
Inflections
2 entriesmore chieflymost chiefly
Derivations
2 entriesSample sentences
14 total sentences available.
The accident was caused chiefly by the unpredictable weather.
Source: tatoeba (47142)
The committee is composed chiefly of professors.
Source: tatoeba (49654)
This book is chiefly concerned with the effects of secondhand smoking.
Source: tatoeba (56923)
Showing 4 of 14 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "chiefly"?
Closest matches include mainly, primarily, principally, a fortiori, ab initio.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "chiefly"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.