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
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 bosses
Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2026
Similar sentiments could be seen at elsewhere, where rank-and-file employees expressed far more vocal outrage than their bosses.
—Alessandro Piazza, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026
When expectations are unclear, like those communicated by busy bosses, teachers or healthcare providers, people become hypervigilant.
—Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 3 Feb. 2026
Be sure to check the dates on the sides of the bosses, and if the box is empty, discard it to open up space.
—Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 3 Feb. 2026
Players can earn Candy and Candy XL for the raid bosses of that day.
—Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 30 Jan. 2026
Toxic bosses don’t understand that credit-sharing actually amplifies status.
—Chris Lipp, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Aides said the Pretti death was such a clarifying moment for their bosses that inaction was no longer an option.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 29 Jan. 2026
My bosses, including Beto Perez (Zumba founder), have been incredibly receptive and are always looking for innovation and ways to do things better.
—Jessica Roiz, Billboard, 29 Jan. 2026
Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Noun
The Washington Post’s sportswriters could cover anything—and did—because we were taught to look with a hard eye, write vividly and observationally, and hit our deadlines no matter what, which made other section bosses always want us.
—Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2026
Similar sentiments could be seen at elsewhere, where rank-and-file employees expressed far more vocal outrage than their bosses.
—Alessandro Piazza, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026
When expectations are unclear, like those communicated by busy bosses, teachers or healthcare providers, people become hypervigilant.
—Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 3 Feb. 2026
Be sure to check the dates on the sides of the bosses, and if the box is empty, discard it to open up space.
—Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 3 Feb. 2026
Players can earn Candy and Candy XL for the raid bosses of that day.
—Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 30 Jan. 2026
Toxic bosses don’t understand that credit-sharing actually amplifies status.
—Chris Lipp, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Aides said the Pretti death was such a clarifying moment for their bosses that inaction was no longer an option.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 29 Jan. 2026
My bosses, including Beto Perez (Zumba founder), have been incredibly receptive and are always looking for innovation and ways to do things better.
—Jessica Roiz, Billboard, 29 Jan. 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
-
Support for the measure was offered by some, including union leaders, who warned residents, particularly seniors, are likely to struggle if a local solution to federal budget cuts isn’t adopted.—
Sierra Lopez,
Mercury News,
12 Feb. 2026
-
City leaders are directing residents with questions or concerns to contact their state representatives and pledged transparency if new information emerges.—
Christopher Harris,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Rodriguez works at an after-school program in Orange County and supervises third graders.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Jan. 2026
-
The position directly supervises all parole agent specialists and parole agent supervisors assigned to the Division of Training Unit.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
January 5,
Sacbee.com,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
For people that are not tracking what that actually means, that means that ICE can do almost no arrests in the entire country … If a court rules that there’s a final order of removal, they’re removed actually by an administrative warrant, not a judicial warrant.—
Morgan Chalfant,
semafor.com,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Judge rules federal prosecutors can't seek death penalty Mangione, 27, is facing both federal and state charges in the 2024 killing of Thompson.—
Alexa Herrera,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Once a child in the stands cheering on his countrymen in Brno, Dostál is now one of his nation’s top goalies, and leads a resurgence of Czech netminders across the NHL.—
Jesse Granger,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Bradley leads the Wildcats with 42 steals in 23 games.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Mark Lanier, a lawyer for the plaintiff, questioned Mosseri on Wednesday about whether Instagram chooses profits over the health and safety of minors and whether Mosseri oversees an app that hooks younger users.—
Samantha Delouya,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
-
There’s more, including Nolte’s Money, a dad-like presence who oversees Davis’ stints.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
That affiliation reflects the electoral system, not how a judge governs on the bench.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Perhaps some enterprising Democrat or Republican will come along who exhibits more faith in our constitutional system, governs with the foresight that there are more elections to come than just the next one — and reaps the benefits.—
David M. Drucker,
Twin Cities,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The free agent signing has been a huge factor in the trenches and commands a lot of attention from opposing offensive lines.—
Boston Herald staff,
Boston Herald,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Bourgeois commands a social media audience approaching six million followers, primarily through trainspotting content.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bosses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bosses. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
