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

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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

Summary Many professionals discover their most impactful career lessons often come from demanding, even frustrating, bosses. — Mark Nevins, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026 And American bosses were almost as skimpy with new employees, adding staff 77% below the post-Great Recession norm. — Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 10 Aug. 2026 After a brief conversation with the casino bosses, it’s smoothed over and the gambling continues. — David Hookstead Outkick, FOXNews.com, 7 Aug. 2026 At least, that’s according to bosses and recruiters that the Wall Street Journal spoke to, who complain that their Gen Z new hires are coming with the hefty baggage of overbearing parents. — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 6 Aug. 2026 The ongoing sagas of Getz and Hoyer, two executives who got their jobs the old-school Chicago way — with no bothersome hiring searches conducted by their bosses — are ones that continue to fascinate me. — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 4 Aug. 2026 When the Eras Tour started, in 2023, Swift had been at war with the shadowy entities that owned her recordings—first, the bosses of her former label Big Machine Records, then the mogul Scooter Braun, who bought Big Machine, in 2019. — Mitch Therieau, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026 Although German sportswear brand Puma reported a slip in sales in the second quarter, the company’s bosses remain optimistic that their plan to bring the brand back to growth by 2027 is on the right track. — Cathrin Schaer, Footwear News, 31 July 2026 Also let go were correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega — and soon after, Scott Pelley, after a tense confrontation with his bosses over the changes. — Jocelyn Noveck, Fortune, 29 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

Neither enjoyed the experience, but both became substantially better leaders because of it.

— Mark Nevins, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
District leaders warned that the move could leave CPS vulnerable to midyear cuts if the money doesn’t materialize.

— Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 13 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

Tordin now leads the NWSL in goal contributions (seven goals, eight assists), just ahead of Rodman and Sanchez.

— Emily Olsen, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026
Schwarber, who leads the National League with 35 homers, singled and scored in the fifth, and doubled home Garrett Stubbs in the seventh to add to the lead.

— CBS News, CBS News, 11 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

The divers reported the discovery to the Sicilian Region’s Superintendency of the Sea, a public body that oversees the identification and management of marine archeological sites off the island's coastal waters.

— Christopher Cann, USA Today, 9 Aug. 2026
Bloomfield oversees the resort’s culinary activities too, like a fireside supper for two and a special picnic basket to take on a scenic hike.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of oversees

Verb

English common law still governs substantial rules on cross-border finance, shipping, commercial contracts, and international arbitration.

— Mark Jia, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2026
In Chinese medicine, each of the five elements has an associated color, and yellow represents the Earth element, which governs the spleen and stomach — the digestive organs.

— Karin Eldor, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026