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

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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

Instead, focus on goals, your career and earning some brownie points with bosses, parents and authority figures. — Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 19 Aug. 2026 The decision to freeze the programs came from Schwartz’s political bosses. — ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026 After his ally Joseph Profaci died in 1962, Bonanno’s influence on the Commission declined as rival bosses Carlo Gambino and Thomas Lucchese emerged as the dominant power bloc in New York. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Aug. 2026 If a system has defects or major cost overruns, procurement staffers, their bosses, and their bosses’ bosses face congressional inquiries and outside investigations. — Doug Beck, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026 The body police, in these cases, aren’t a horde of nameless Instagrammers but our bosses, our Hinge dates, our peers. — Brittney McNamara, Vogue, 17 Aug. 2026 If times get bad enough, crew bosses and office staff can go too. — Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 16 Aug. 2026 An omen of the future — The firing is an event worth paying attention to, says Andon Labs CEO Lukas Petersson, because if AI keeps getting better at its current rate, more of us might be managed by AI bosses in the near future. — Billy Perrigo, Time, 14 Aug. 2026 Both sides, in a very short time, got remarkably close to a major nuclear deal, because their bosses, both Soviet and American, wanted one. — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 14 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

Editor-in-Chief Erik Slavin has spoken publicly, including to CBS News, about disagreements with Pentagon leaders.

— Jennifer Jacobs, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
Democratic leaders like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer had hoped Vindman’s reputation and campaign war chest would help turn what election analysts had considered a solidly Republican seat into a more competitive race.

— Matt Brown, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of leaders

Verb

The State Board of Education supervises public K–12 education across the state, overseeing educational interests in Kansas.

— Zuri Primos July 26, Kansas City Star, 26 July 2026
David Smith, who supervises the district’s aedes crew, said his team has received an increasing number of service requests for day-biting mosquitoes within the neighborhood.

— Alula Alderson, Sacbee.com, 8 July 2026

Definition of supervises

Verb

First came an uproar over the Fever potentially skirting WNBA injury report rules as star guard Caitlin Clark worked her way through a back injury early in the season.

— Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2026
Drake Rules Two Album Charts with Iceman Drake rules two album rosters in the United States this week.

— Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of rules

Verb

The Democrat leads Republican challenger Mike Collins in every major public poll, holds a massive fundraising advantage and is now trying to peel away GOP voters.

— Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Unassuming in her affect and understated in her dress, with a shaggy blond bob, Marta greets me warmly and leads me from the basement parking area through an indoor landscape of light.

— Gaby Wood, Vogue, 17 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

Sacramento County Office of Education provides services to Sacramento County school districts and oversees their fiscal stability.

— Chaewon Chung August 16, Sacbee.com, 16 Aug. 2026
There is a disconnect between road crews and the team at the 511 Traffic Management Center, which oversees all active traffic incidents around town.

— Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of oversees

Verb

Now, as someone who governs less radically than feared and is on the cusp of becoming Italy’s longest-serving postwar leader, Meloni often wears pastel-colored suits with wide-legged trousers that cover her high heels.

— ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
District 60 General Counsel Kathryn Vander Broek said at the meeting the state school code governs the procedure for dealing with educational support personnel when there are staff reductions.

— Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of governs

Verb

Alonso’s appointment marks the arrival of a coach who commands authority.

— George Edwards, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Unlike in the Senate, where Democratic votes can be necessary to overcome the 60-vote filibuster threshold, Jeffries commands a minority caucus in a chamber where Republicans can pass most legislation with a simple majority.

— Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 15 Aug. 2026