Synonyms of boss

boss 1 of 3

noun

ˈbȯs 

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

• leader
• foreman
• manager
• chief
• captain
• master
• commander
• director
• head
• supervisor
• lord
• administrator
• overseer
• superintendent
• taskmaster
• honcho
• kingpin
• jefe
• executive
• president
• boss man
• headman
• helmsman
• governor
• principal
• employer
• steward
• mistress
• general
• overlord
• ruler
• king
• skipper
• leadman
• prince
• baron
• directress
• magnate
• superior
• straw boss
• higher-up
• bigwig
• mogul
• czar
• sovereign
• figurehead
• potentate
• dominator
• big gun
• standard-bearer
• hierarch
• gaffer
• top dog
• micromanager
• coleader
• top gun
• ganger
• big cheese
• cohead
• subchief
• subdirector

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• secondary
• dependent
• subordinate
• subject
• junior
• underling
• inferior

boss

2 of 3

adjective

ˈbȯs 

slang

as in excellent

of the very best kind

that's a really boss stereo you've got

Synonyms & Similar Words

• excellent
• awesome
• great
• wonderful
• lovely
• prime
• terrific
• superb
• fabulous
• fantastic
• stellar
• beautiful
• fine
• hot
• famous
• marvelous
• top
• classic
• divine
• quality
• heavenly
• brave
• frontline
• bully
• superior
• wizard
• cool
• slick
• cracking
• banner
• grand
• par excellence
• choice
• neat
• sensational
• sterling
• noble
• good
• topflight
• crackerjack
• first-class
• prize
• topping
• dynamite
• too much
• keen
• dandy
• high-class
• out of this world
• exceptional
• gone
• capital
• dope
• mean
• peachy
• number one
• splendid
• first-rate
• fab
• bumper
• first-string
• superlative
• righteous
• groovy
• swell
• top-notch
• top-shelf
• radical
• immense
• blue-ribbon
• unsurpassed
• brag
• blue-chip
• supernal
• out-of-sight
• down
• A1
• primo
• nifty
• gangbusters
• better
• decent
• special
• numero uno
• bang-up
• peachy keen
• prizewinning
• phat
• tip-top
• fantabulous
• top-of-the-line
• corking
• A-OK
• boffo
• acceptable
• five-star
• all right
• satisfactory
• adequate
• jim-dandy
• bonny
• four-star
• hype
• OK
• traditional
• gilt-edged
• fancy
• tolerable
• classical
• premium
• passable
• high-grade
• select
• standard
• high-test
• superfine

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• poor
• terrible
• awful
• rotten
• lousy
• vile
• pathetic
• wretched
• bad
• atrocious
• inferior
• unsatisfactory
• substandard
• low-grade
• execrable
• mediocre
• second-class
• middling
• second-rate

boss

3 of 3

verb

ˈbȯs 

1

as in to supervise

to be in charge of

she bossed that project for years, until she was promoted again

Synonyms & Similar Words

• supervise
• oversee
• handle
• manage
• head
• command
• steer
• watch over
• direct
• captain
• control
• run
• guide
• superintend
• show
• overlook
• quarterback
• ride herd on
• order
• call the tune (for)
• call the shots (of)
• monitor
• administer
• shepherd
• preside (over)
• rule
• reign
• govern

2

as in to rule

to exercise authority or power over

bossed the entire job site for a year

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rule
• govern
• control
• captain
• dominate
• preside (over)
• command
• dictate
• manage
• domineer
• sway
• lead
• oversee
• head
• administer
• master
• supervise
• direct
• lord (it over)
• conduct
• regulate
• micromanage
• reign (over)
• conquer
• superintend
• oppress
• subdue
• subjugate
• tyrannize

3

as in to lead

to serve as leader of

bossed the entire gang of electricians on the construction project

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lead
• command
• captain
• head
• spearhead
• oversee
• control
• direct
• dominate
• manage
• supervise
• handle
• run
• govern
• regulate
• superintend

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• submit (to)
• serve
• yield (to)
• comply (with)
• follow
• obey
• bow (to)
• defer (to)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of boss

Noun

The exec rejoins his former Netflix boss Peter Friedlander, now head of global TV at Amazon MGM Studios. — Michael Schneider, Variety, 20 Aug. 2026

Biden’s support collapsed within his first year, and Kamala Harris’s half-hearted efforts to distance herself from her unpopular boss were too little, too late. — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2026

Adjective

That’s basically the boss level of the shopping game—and usually requires hours of research. — Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 20 Nov. 2025

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

Be ready to boss up and take dominion of situations that are seemingly out of your control (but won’t be for long) to help attain a sense of security. — Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 30 Mar. 2026

England was bossing the game up front at 27-17 until Genge was sin-binned and France pounced. — ABC News, 14 Mar. 2026

Phrases Containing boss

• boss (around)
• boss man