as in boss
the person (as an employer or supervisor) who tells people and especially workers what to do
Everyone knows that the real jefe of that football team is the quarterback and not the coach.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 jefe
The tortilla had no flavor; the tostada which supposedly offers textural counterpoint — the whole idea, according to its advocates, like Times newsletter jefe Karim Doumar — was soggy.
—
Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025
Learn more The other jefe Raúl headed the Cuban Army for decades, and under his watch the military control over the economy expanded.
—Kevin G. Hall, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2025
Chambers, a longtime exec, spent a great degree of time in L.A. since serving as distribution jefe for Disney.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2025
Trejo’s Spirits Tequila Alternative Action hero and Trejo’s Tacos jefe Danny Trejo has been sober for over 50 years and has put his name on a smooth and balanced zero-proof tequila alternative that empowers non-imbibers to make perfect Palomas and hangover-free margaritas.
—Hugh Garvey, Sunset Magazine, 18 Jan. 2024
Los Tigres del Norte Leave it to Los Tigres del Norte’s power anthem to get everyone on the dance floor feeling like a jefe (boss).
—Billboard Staff, Billboard, 4 May 2022
In an end-of-year address posted online, the ELN’s jefe máximo, who goes by the alias Gabino, promised to continue negotiations even if hostilities resumed.
—Maximo Anderson, Bloomberg.com, 10 Jan. 2018
Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025
Learn more The other jefe Raúl headed the Cuban Army for decades, and under his watch the military control over the economy expanded.
—Kevin G. Hall, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2025
Chambers, a longtime exec, spent a great degree of time in L.A. since serving as distribution jefe for Disney.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2025
Trejo’s Spirits Tequila Alternative Action hero and Trejo’s Tacos jefe Danny Trejo has been sober for over 50 years and has put his name on a smooth and balanced zero-proof tequila alternative that empowers non-imbibers to make perfect Palomas and hangover-free margaritas.
—Hugh Garvey, Sunset Magazine, 18 Jan. 2024
Los Tigres del Norte Leave it to Los Tigres del Norte’s power anthem to get everyone on the dance floor feeling like a jefe (boss).
—Billboard Staff, Billboard, 4 May 2022
In an end-of-year address posted online, the ELN’s jefe máximo, who goes by the alias Gabino, promised to continue negotiations even if hostilities resumed.
—Maximo Anderson, Bloomberg.com, 10 Jan. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jefe
Noun
-
Your ability to charm bosses and VIPs will be excellent.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Her mother lost her job because her boss is uncomfortable employing someone with an ankle monitor.—
Mica Rosenberg,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Rebecca will also meet Tom's foreman, Nash McCabe (Brad Abramenko), and his wife, Peggy (Chelsea Hobbs).—
Breanne L. Heldman,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Magaña shows him how to maneuver the blade around a thick trunk, as the foreman kicks it loose.—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
17 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Meanwhile, senior leaders at Arizona State University were quietly hosting 30 leaders from Korean technical colleges to discuss how the United States might learn from their success in developing an AI-ready workforce.—
David Ignatius,
Washington Post,
11 Feb. 2026
-
But almost immediately after, scrappy rivals like Microsoft and Apple came along to chip away at IBM’s market leader status.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The report was filed in April 2020, and the chief’s name was revealed to be Michael Reiter years later.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Despite the long history of elite WTA players mastering the art of the moonball, Caroline Wozniacki and Angelique Kerber chief among them, sending tennis balls into the atmosphere still draws out the sport’s eternal, often cursed relationship between style and ethics.—
James Hansen,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Treatment was largely ad hoc and depended to a considerable degree on individual commanders, but customarily prisoners would be exchanged or placed on parole—granted their freedom but required by oath not to return to military action.—
Drew Gilpin Faust,
The Atlantic,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Tom Homan, the administration’s border czar, was sent in to replace Greg Bovino, the controversial on-the-ground commander who critics say fueled conflict.—
Alicia Diaz,
Fortune,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The pivotal match came in the 190-class between Ramona senior captain Kaitlyn Peck and Imperial’s Yarely Vasquez, the top seed.—
Stephanie Ogilvie,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Hannah Bilka scored twice, and the United States’ youth and speed overwhelmed a Canadian women’s hockey team missing its captain in a 5-0 win at the Milan Cortina Games.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Over the course of her career, Karen Powers worked in the offices of three State Farm agents as a kind of office manager with, eventually, duties of selling insurance herself.—
J.C. Hallman,
Oklahoman,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The restaurant’s general manager, Saskia Baden, likens it to a Mediterranean bento box.—
Laurie Ochoa,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Jefe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jefe. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
