BOSSES Synonyms: 125 Similar and Opposite Words

bosses 1 of 2

noun

plural of boss

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

bosses

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of boss

as in supervises

to be in charge of she bossed that project for years, until she was promoted again

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in rules

to exercise authority or power over bossed the entire job site for a year

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Noun

What Billy doesn’t realize is how little any of that matters in the real game—the one being played by the town’s political bosses. — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026 The Court has been persistently reactionary in its dealings with other branches, using horizontal review to protect enslavers from abolitionists, bosses from unions, and tycoons from tax collectors. — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026 Ohtani threw about 20 pitches in a bullpen session Friday and wasn’t 100%, and that set off alarm bells with the Dodgers’ bosses. — Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026 There has long been a feeling in Osterley that Love bosses struggled to come to terms with surrendering their ownership to Sky in 2020. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 29 Aug. 2026 Still, the constant death against even low-level grunt enemies, let alone fearsome bosses, is annoying and obnoxious. — Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 26 Aug. 2026 Just not as much as the callous bosses who created this indefensible, toxic situation and the fanatics who once cheered it. — Candace Buckner, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 Southern California bosses have pulled back on hiring, but this cooling is less dramatic than what’s seen nationwide. — Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 25 Aug. 2026 Capcom has also said regular Genma and bosses will provide a tougher fight in the final game. — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026

Verb

No harm, no foul — as long as the commission bosses back the changes, Zelden said. — Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2026 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

These decisions are not siloed within a sustainability team but are made the responsibility of commercial, sourcing, finance, and operations leaders.

— Cleo Levin, Footwear News, 2 Sep. 2026
Great storytellers know how to tell a story, but great leaders know how to find them.

— Bryan Adams, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of leaders

Verb

The State Board of Education supervises public education in Michigan and appoints the state superintendent.

— Clara Hendrickson, Freep.com, 28 Aug. 2026
The executive also coordinates and supervises county departments and is responsible for submitting an annual balanced budget to the Legislature.

— Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of supervises

Verb

Robinson, who is currently in state prison, will remain in custody at least until a judge rules on his custody status at a hearing, Wagstaffe said.

— Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026
And merchant readiness, so offers carry the stock, price and rules an agent can read and act on instantly.

— Lital Marom, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of rules

Verb

San Diego leads Arizona by a half-game in the race for the National League’s final wild-card spot.

— Dennis Lin, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Norman, who also leads a host of gloriously entertaining tours around London and beyond, built this show around the same idea — that even the driest elements of history become much more fun when everyone is invited to join in.

— Rebecca Rosman, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of leads

Noun

Customers were very important; workers, foremen.

— Michael Kilian, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
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

Definition of foremen

Verb

During his broadcasting career, Martin also served as regional vice president and president of Gray Kentucky Television, which oversees WKYT, WYMT and WBKO-TV in Bowling Green.

— Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 30 Aug. 2026
The eight-member body oversees McCuskey’s work and consists of four Democratic and four Republican legislators, including Keicher.

— Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of oversees

Verb

While the Boise officials decide zoning and land use, the Ada County Highway District governs local streets, and the Idaho Transportation Department controls State Street itself, legally a portion of state Highway 44.

— Mark Dee August 27, Idaho Statesman, 27 Aug. 2026
Both of those functions are what the law that governs derivatives, and its federal regulator, are meant to protect.

— Brian Quintenz, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of governs

Verb

Nuclear power currently commands more political attention, more corporate investment and more technological hype than at any point in at least three decades.

— Interesting Engineering, Interesting Engineering, 31 Aug. 2026
This coffee table designed by Athena Calderone commands attention with its sculptural block design and almost five-inch-thick travertine top.

— Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 26 Aug. 2026