as in leaders
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
1
as in supervises
to be in charge of
she bossed that project for years, until she was promoted again
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in rules
to exercise authority or power over
bossed the entire job site for a year
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in leads
to serve as leader of
bossed the entire gang of electricians on the construction project
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bosses
David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Even romantic relationships can’t fill the gap Rinne sees forming between employees and their bosses.
—Jacqueline Munis, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2026
It's become a buzzword lobbed at bad bosses and ex-boyfriends, and leaders across the political spectrum.
—Emma Bowman, NPR, 25 Mar. 2026
Fremantle bosses will no longer take the stage at Series Mania.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 24 Mar. 2026
As a result, bosses, parents and people in authority will listen to you and respect your suggestions.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 23 Mar. 2026
There are a number of compelling adversaries for Grace and Faith to overcome, but Ursula and Titus are depicted as the final bosses from the jump.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
During the biggest disruption to energy markets in modern history, what’s a Hilton full of oil bosses to do?
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 19 Mar. 2026
The time when teachers gain popularity points for airing local team’s games, and kindly bosses understand that Thursday is an excusable sick day.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 15 Mar. 2026
Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Noun
Bernadine was now viewed with such suspicion that Chalker’s bosses suspected a setup.
—David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Even romantic relationships can’t fill the gap Rinne sees forming between employees and their bosses.
—Jacqueline Munis, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2026
It's become a buzzword lobbed at bad bosses and ex-boyfriends, and leaders across the political spectrum.
—Emma Bowman, NPR, 25 Mar. 2026
Fremantle bosses will no longer take the stage at Series Mania.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 24 Mar. 2026
As a result, bosses, parents and people in authority will listen to you and respect your suggestions.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 23 Mar. 2026
There are a number of compelling adversaries for Grace and Faith to overcome, but Ursula and Titus are depicted as the final bosses from the jump.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
During the biggest disruption to energy markets in modern history, what’s a Hilton full of oil bosses to do?
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 19 Mar. 2026
The time when teachers gain popularity points for airing local team’s games, and kindly bosses understand that Thursday is an excusable sick day.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 15 Mar. 2026
Verb
Dano and Collette joined co-stars Abigail Breslin and Greg Kinnear and their director bosses Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris at the screening.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bosses
Noun
-
Gables leaders have raised concerns during city meetings about the potential impact.—
Michelle Marchante,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
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City leaders in Lake Dallas got more than an earful from residents who believe they were failed during a crisis in late March when a house explosion critically injured Jessica Bailey Lopez.—
Marvin Hurst,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
At Fordham University, hundreds of female students gather for Smart Women Securities meets to learn about analyzing equities and financial statements, according to Rosa Romeo, a Fordham accounting professor who supervises the group.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Meanwhile, the Minnesota State Patrol, which supervises security at the Capitol complex, had a more conservative estimate of around 100,000.—
Alex Derosier,
Twin Cities,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
For noncustodial parents, these age rules only matter if Form 8332 is in place.—
Jenni Fink,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Artemis is the daughter of Zeus, who rules over all of the other gods, and Leto, one of the goddesses of childhood.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Raynaud, who came out of Stanford as the 42nd overall pick in the second round of the 2025 NBA draft, leads all rookies with 17 double-doubles this season.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Barzani leads the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region in northern Iraq.—
Zach LaChance,
The Washington Examiner,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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For years after that, TCU alums who had served as Ranch Week foremen or queen would proudly include it on resumes, in professional biographies or when running for office.—
Matt Leclercq,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Michel now oversees Larkin’s graduate medical educational programs and is chairman of Larkin University, which is governed separately from the hospital, said Smith, the hospital’s attorney.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
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Georgia is one of just three states that oversees its ash disposal program, which environmentalists have long criticized.—
Kristi Swartz,
AJC.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
American law governs the ownership of ideas with considerable precision.—
Ugo Troiano,
Oc Register,
26 Mar. 2026
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The rulings also point to a potential reckoning with the Section 230 provision of the Communications Decency Act that governs free speech.—
Jonathan Vanian,
CNBC,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Like Wawa, in Pennsylvania, and H-E-B, in Texas, Publix—founded in 1930 by a former Piggly Wiggly manager in Winter Haven, Florida—is a regional chain that commands an almost religious devotion.—
Hannah Goldfield,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Trump still commands strong support among his party, especially with MAGA Republicans.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bosses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bosses. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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