as in leader
the person (as an employer or supervisor) who tells people and especially workers what to do
every morning the boss hands out a list of top-priority tasks
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
slang
as in excellent
of the very best kind
that's a really boss stereo you've got
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to supervise
to be in charge of
she bossed that project for years, until she was promoted again
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to rule
to exercise authority or power over
bossed the entire job site for a year
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to lead
to serve as leader of
bossed the entire gang of electricians on the construction project
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 boss
Sho Dewan, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
That makes this an excellent day to talk to bosses and authority figures about financial matters.
—Georgia Nicols, The Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2025
Sabrina Eaton, cleveland, 6 Nov. 2020
This excludes things like putting in legendaries for end of mission rewards or taking them out of non-boss chests.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2021
Jordan Campbell, The Athletic, 14 Aug. 2024
That evening, Ellie once again bosses Bri and Carrie around in the name of decorating.
—Emma Soren, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for boss
Noun
Every workplace has its share of tough personalities: demanding bosses, high-maintenance clients, or stubborn coworkers.
—Sho Dewan, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
That makes this an excellent day to talk to bosses and authority figures about financial matters.
—Georgia Nicols, The Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
Binning notes that Democratic U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of the Niles area, a former Traficant aide who won his ex-boss' congressional seat, was re-elected Tuesday by his smallest-ever margin, defeating GOP former state legislator Christina Hagan by 7.5 percentage points.
—Sabrina Eaton, cleveland, 6 Nov. 2020
This excludes things like putting in legendaries for end of mission rewards or taking them out of non-boss chests.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2021
Verb
Merino, 28, has bossed Real Sociedad’s midfield for years.
—Jordan Campbell, The Athletic, 14 Aug. 2024
That evening, Ellie once again bosses Bri and Carrie around in the name of decorating.
—Emma Soren, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for boss
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boss
Noun
-
In a mid-January poll by Nanos, the Liberals trailed the opposition Conservatives and their leader Pierre Poilievre 47% to 20%.—
Rob Gillies,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Mar. 2025
-
The protests have been slamming Tesla CEO Elon Musk — de facto leader of the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE — over his spearheading of the Trump administration’s government jobs- and funding-slashing agenda.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
9 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Alabama got 24 points from Mark Sears and had excellent defensive stretches but couldn’t finish.—
Joe Rexrode,
The Athletic,
2 Mar. 2025
-
More Deebo Samuel news: 49ers Send Star WR Deebo Samuel to Commanders in Blockbuster Trade Samuel will take his talents to the nation's capital and look to take the Commanders to the next level after an excellent year for the young Washington team.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
2 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The Trump administration has denied in court papers that intends to abolish the agency completely, arguing that some of its functions are continuing, but Reuters on Monday reported top officials at the consumer agency have not allowed staff to resume supervising financial companies.—
Ken Alltucker,
USA TODAY,
5 Mar. 2025
-
General billed Medicare and other government insurers for surgeries performed by Harvard medical trainees without proper oversight because supervising surgeons were working in another operating room.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
4 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The poll comes after a judge appointed by Trump ruled against his administration's effort to limit birthright citizenship, dealing a blow to a key immigration policy.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
3 Mar. 2025
-
The courts ultimately ruled in the rapper’s favor in 2010, citing artistic expression as a protected right.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Helen Gregory and Simon Gillis now lead day-to-day operations as Joint Managing Directors.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
6 Mar. 2025
-
Listen: The Five Eyes have noticed Hanging over the rapid dissolution of these old relationships is the question of who would lead in the United States’ absence.—
Shane Harris,
The Atlantic,
6 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Azevedo, a sheet-metal foreman who won election last year to a second council term, has repeatedly declined to comment on the FBI raid at his home, except to declare his innocence.—
Jakob Rodgers,
The Mercury News,
10 Mar. 2025
-
White miners later blamed James A. Evans, the shift foreman, and Dave Brookman, the pit boss that morning, for the dispute.—
Michael Luo,
The New Yorker,
3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Our casting isn’t awesome, our photography is flat, and our styling is missing the mark with young audiences.—
Evan Clark,
WWD,
6 Mar. 2025
-
Watching top performers get away with toxic behavior drives away your other awesome team members.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes,
4 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Ali is overseeing a challenge to Mr. Trump's 90-day pause on foreign assistance brought by a group of nonprofits and businesses that receive foreign aid funding and argue the freeze is an unconstitutional exercise of presidential power.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
5 Mar. 2025
-
Simone Swink will oversee all Good Morning America branded shows, a change as GMA and GMA3 had previously operated separately, with Cat McKenzie as EP of the spinoff show.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
5 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Boss.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boss. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share