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

The reality is, whether his bosses at the Spanish Football Federation knew it or not, De la Fuente’s profile fit that of other successful international coaches. — Chris Evans, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026 By the mid-nineteenth century the Hawaiian throne, and the British, were both losing power as the growing cartel of US plantation bosses aggressively sought sway. — Literary Hub, 20 July 2026 Behind the scenes, Gordon managed to convince his bosses to fork out the extra money for the production. — Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 19 July 2026 Perel calls on bosses to stop turning a blind eye to these challenges and become part of the change. — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 17 July 2026 But with many of the bosses atop those agencies exiting, a new concern over what that may mean is starting. — Chris Tye, CBS News, 14 July 2026 Typically reserved for autocrats and crime bosses, sanctions can be devastating. — ABC News, 14 July 2026 National fire bosses have raised preparedness to near-maximum levels, shuffling thousands of firefighters and aircraft among Western states as more than 5,600 square miles burn, far above recent averages. — Susan Montoya Bryan, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026 My last bosses had created a toxic work environment in which people hesitated to speak up, question authority, or make mistakes. — Leslie Friday, CNBC, 10 July 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

Diversity leaders, who have often been positioned around talent, will no longer be able to lean on the annual EEO1 report that many have relied on to understand the demographic data needed to excel in their position.

— Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
While shorting is a common way for firms to hedge their bets, business leaders tend to loathe activist shorts — the folks who target a company by name, bet against it and trash-talk it in the financial press.

— Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 23 July 2026

Definition of leaders

Verb

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
View on Spotify Randall Poster, Air Mail’s Music Editor, supervises the music in movies.

— Air Mail, Air Mail, 4 July 2026

Definition of supervises

Verb

Disclosure rules under the ESPR, which big businesses are already expected to comply with, will also take effect for their medium-sized counterparts in 2030.

— Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 14 July 2026
Similarly, a party may take a view of a legal issue which is entirely reasonable but later the court rules otherwise.

— Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

Definition of rules

Verb

Imran Ahmad, who leads Bitso Business, the B2B arm of one of Latin America's largest crypto exchanges, frames what endures the fee race in three parts.

— Aaron Stanley, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
The fact that Smokler and Boone were already in talks with the Bottom of the Hill owners about a film project before the news cycle kicked into gear leads many to believe in their ability to get the story right.

— Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 20 July 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

The comment was a reference to the once-in-a-decade review of the BBC’s royal charter, which governs its operations and priorities.

— Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2026
Community advocates have largely pushed for an ordinance, a local law that typically governs the actions of the general public.

— Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 13 July 2026

Definition of governs

Verb

Extra legroom is nice, but freedom from a seatmate is relief, and relief commands a premium.

— Roger Dooley, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Outside, the celebratory scene replays, almost bittersweet, as the voice of director Wash Westmoreland commands the cameras and his ensemble, now thoroughly in young adulthood, from an invisible space across the room.

— Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 16 July 2026