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
Ryan Oehrli, Charlotte Observer, 7 Nov. 2025
In his first interview since the tragic events in May, Cacique, a Spanish nickname given to a local boss, said the turncoats hoped to receive a reward for the capture of Robert Colina, whose alias was Pantera, Spanish for panther.
—Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 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
James Pearce, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
Though Mayweather bossed the bout while appearing to go half-speed, no winner was declared.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for boss
Noun
Former high-ranking employees have quit the sheriff’s office, often in public fashion, and accused him of being a vindictive and narcissistic boss.
—Ryan Oehrli, Charlotte Observer, 7 Nov. 2025
In his first interview since the tragic events in May, Cacique, a Spanish nickname given to a local boss, said the turncoats hoped to receive a reward for the capture of Robert Colina, whose alias was Pantera, Spanish for panther.
—Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 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
Getting extra bodies into central areas enabled City to boss the midfield.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
Though Mayweather bossed the bout while appearing to go half-speed, no winner was declared.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for boss
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boss
Noun
-
The Chiefs’ announcement has energized Missouri leaders around keeping the Royals.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Drivers will no longer be able to travel straight through the corridor, though county leaders say local access will remain available for people who live or work in the area.—
Nina Burns,
CBS News,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Thus far, Arsenal’s excellent form has relegated the injuries to a subplot.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
-
The carbon nanofiber provides mechanical stability, abundant pore channels, and excellent electrolyte wettability, while the cobalt sites catalyze the adsorption and conversion of polysulfides.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The boards for the district develop and approve policies for the schools; hire, supervise and evaluate the superintendent; and approve budgets set by the superintendent.—
The Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Laurie Orlando, who has supervised talent recruitment and strategy at CBS News for nearly a decade, is leaving the Paramount Skydance operation — the latest of the news division’s senior executives to exit as the parent company overhauls its operations under an iconoclastic new editor in chief.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The officials were fooled, ruling it incomplete.—
The Athletic College Football Staff,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Two federal judges ruled on October 31 that the administration needed to at least partially fund the benefits using an agency contingency fund of about $5 billion.—
Leah Douglas,
USA Today,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Abbey Schreacke led Missouri with 19 points, and Grace Slaughter added 12.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
9 Jan. 2026
-
In Wednesday’s loss to Grand Canyon, junior forward Andrew Meadow attempted just two shots from the field, neither from beyond the arc, despite being one of the Broncos’ best shooters and the team’s second-leading scorer.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
According to the foreman, the jury was leaning toward assigning 55% blame to the Angels and assigning Skaggs with the least amount, at 15%.—
Sydney Barragan,
Oc Register,
20 Dec. 2025
-
Juan Antonio Nevarez-Porras, 40, a foreman for Renegade Construction since 2016, was traveling with his 16-year-old son, Jonathan, to Nashville, Tennessee, to visit family and attend the 100th anniversary of the Grand Ole Opry, his family said.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
The guys are awesome; everybody’s been super welcoming.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
-
And what Moana has represented is a really awesome global embrace of Polynesian culture, our values and our qualities and our pride and our mana.—
Scott Feinberg,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Officials said Bovino, who has overseen several controversial immigration operations in Los Angeles, Chicago, Charlotte and New Orleans, said he is expected to lead enforcement efforts in Minnesota as well.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
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Andreas Wiseman, Executive Editor of International and Strategy, and Anthony D’Alessandro, Editorial Director, along with Justin Kroll, Deadline’s Film Editor, will continue in their roles overseeing the news site’s prominent film coverage.—
The Deadline Team,
Deadline,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Boss.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boss. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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