as in authoritarian
fond of ordering people around
I don't want to work with him because he's so bossy and always runs roughshod over me
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bossy
Many parents who witness such behavior grow anxious, shout bossy directives, or declare the ball off-limits entirely.
—
Henry Abbott, The Atlantic, 12 July 2025
Moreover, some toddlers can also be quite bossy and demand that pretend play reaches their standards of entertainment and originality, instructing parents on the intricacies of the backstory and dialogue.
—Melissa Willets, Parents, 2 July 2025
Luna, born on April 10, 2022, had a big personality packed into a small, bossy frame.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025
Giving a clear direction is different than being bossy!
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for bossy
Henry Abbott, The Atlantic, 12 July 2025
Moreover, some toddlers can also be quite bossy and demand that pretend play reaches their standards of entertainment and originality, instructing parents on the intricacies of the backstory and dialogue.
—Melissa Willets, Parents, 2 July 2025
Luna, born on April 10, 2022, had a big personality packed into a small, bossy frame.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025
Giving a clear direction is different than being bossy!
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for bossy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bossy
Adjective
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Now, the same institutions once intimidated by authoritarian power have declared that a former commander-in-chief conspired to revoke the 2022 election, assassinate rivals, and eventually unleash street chaos to hold on to power.—
Julia Vargas Jones,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
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Ray's father was a dissenter who was executed by the Major himself for his outspoken anti-authoritarian views, and Ray wants revenge.—
Megan McCluskey,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Managers often grow more assertive (sometimes drifting into domineering).—
Dave Winsborough,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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Also in the cast: Emmy winner Laurie Metcalfe, as Augusta Gein, the murderer's religious, domineering mother; Tom Hollander as director Alfred Hitchcock; Olivia Williams as the filmmaker's wife, Alma Reville Hitchcock; and Lesley Manville, as Gein's second murder victim, Bernice Worden.—
Chris Foran,
jsonline.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Zane played the arrogant Cal Hockley, who was engaged to Jack's love interest, Rose (played by Kate Winslet).—
Virginia Chamlee,
People.com,
9 Sep. 2025
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Hardly seems like enough to cow these arrogant companies into behaving, especially when their business model is so intrinsically tied to hoovering up other people’s information and creative work.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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These risks multiply when multiple agents collaborate, each trusting outputs from others as authoritative inputs.—
Steve Durbin,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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In June, more than 20 authoritative organizations, including the National Medical Association and American Academy of Pediatrics, expressed serious concerns for the health impacts of overhauling the advisory committee.—
Jordan Miller,
The Conversation,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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From the outside, Laura could be loving, protective, overbearing, even intrusive — while Cherry sows doubt for hiding pieces of her past despite ostensibly adoring her new beau.—
Proma Khosla,
IndieWire,
10 Sep. 2025
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An accomplished art dealer, Laura has her loving hotel tycoon husband, Howard (Waleed Zuaiter), and an overbearing bond with her adult son, Daniel (Laurie Davidson), a physician.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bossy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bossy. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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