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
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Recent Examples of boss
Jillian Sederholm, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Oct. 2025
With very few exceptions, no one gets hired without talking to their potential boss first.
—Amy Lindgren, Twin Cities, 25 Oct. 2025
Paul Tassi, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2021
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
Alice Burton, Vulture, 28 July 2025
Ali Larter [who plays Thornton’s feisty ex-wife] bursts through the room wearing half a sarong and starts bossing me around.
—Emily Longeretta, Variety, 15 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for boss
Noun
Longtime show boss Lorne Michaels has called the cast turnover good for SNL.
—Jillian Sederholm, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Oct. 2025
With very few exceptions, no one gets hired without talking to their potential boss first.
—Amy Lindgren, Twin Cities, 25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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
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
Verb
Bertha sits down with Gladys and finds out that Hector and Sarah’s parents died when Hector was young, and Sarah has been bossing him around ever since.
—Alice Burton, Vulture, 28 July 2025
Ali Larter [who plays Thornton’s feisty ex-wife] bursts through the room wearing half a sarong and starts bossing me around.
—Emily Longeretta, Variety, 15 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for boss
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boss
Noun
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One of the most famous examples of a major business leader succeeding from failure was Apple’s visionary cofounder Steve Jobs.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
24 Oct. 2025
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The look emulated some of Queen Elizabeth’s outfits for her audiences with the leader of the Catholic Church.—
Stephanie Petit,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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This is where the Greenpoint comes from, an excellent neo-classic riff on a Manhattan that was invented at Milk & Honey in New York, and comprises the classic build of Manhattan—rye, sweet vermouth, and bitters—into which has been spliced the inimitable French herbal liqueur, Yellow Chartreuse.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
25 Oct. 2025
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The Jayhawks did an excellent job of getting back in transition, limiting Louisville’s fast-break opportunities.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Hoban supervised construction of the porticoes on the north and south sides of the building that Latrobe originally designed in 1807.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
24 Oct. 2025
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The children's parents were simply socializing like normal, the man wrote, not supervising the kids at all.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Penix was ruled out with a bone bruise to his knee, suffered in last week's loss to the San Francisco 49ers, while London was added late to the Falcons' injury report with a hip issue, downgraded to questionable and ultimately ruled inactive.—
Rowan Fisher-Shotton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Oct. 2025
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Everyone knows that some form of Hamas—skinned of the top echelon of its leadership—has survived and rules the parts of Gaza that Israel never fully occupied.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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As a direct result of this, businesses end up with managers who aren’t confident in their ability to lead, and who struggle to deal with the various challenges that come with managing people, leading both employees and struggling managers to resign.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
23 Oct. 2025
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The Pima Critical Incident Team was activated after the incident with the Oro Valley Police Department assigned to lead the investigation, Adger said.—
Julie Mendes,
AZCentral.com,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Umanzor Molina, 39, a construction foreman who worked on projects at Miami International Airport, was detained in a day care parking lot in Aventura, Florida.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
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First responders were summoned to the scene, as Brockman’s foreman put on climbing gear, ascended the tree and assisted in lowering him to the ground.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Buzelis was awesome in preseason, for what that’s worth, and his 21-point, three-block performance in the opening night win over Detroit included several highlight-worthy clips.—
John Hollinger,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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While Plymouth may be known for turkey dinners and the Pilgrims, its food scene has evolved into an awesome melting pot embracing global cuisine.—
Moira McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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State agencies, such as the Arkansas Department of Human Services, oversee the program and bear a portion of administrative expenses.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Oct. 2025
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The National Reconnaissance Office, which oversees building and launching spy satellites, has a classified budget.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Boss.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boss. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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