Synonyms of boss

boss 1 of 3

noun

ˈbȯs 

as in leader

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• leader
• foreman
• chief
• manager
• captain
• master
• commander
• director
• head
• supervisor
• lord
• administrator
• overseer
• superintendent
• taskmaster
• honcho
• executive
• kingpin
• jefe
• president
• boss man
• headman
• helmsman
• governor
• principal
• employer
• steward
• mistress
• general
• overlord
• ruler
• king
• skipper
• leadman
• prince
• baron
• directress
• magnate
• superior
• straw boss
• bigwig
• higher-up
• mogul
• czar
• sovereign
• figurehead
• potentate
• tsar
• dominator
• big gun
• standard-bearer
• hierarch
• gaffer
• top dog
• micromanager
• coleader
• top gun
• ganger
• sovran
• big cheese
• tzar
• cohead
• subchief
• subdirector

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• secondary
• dependent
• subordinate
• subject
• junior
• underling
• inferior

boss

2 of 3

adjective

ˈbȯs 

slang

as in excellent

of the very best kind

that's a really boss stereo you've got

Synonyms & Similar Words

• excellent
• awesome
• great
• lovely
• wonderful
• terrific
• fabulous
• superb
• fantastic
• stellar
• prime
• beautiful
• fine
• hot
• marvellous
• famous
• marvelous
• top
• classic
• divine
• quality
• heavenly
• brave
• cool
• frontline
• bully
• superior
• wizard
• slick
• cracking
• banner
• grand
• neat
• choice
• par excellence
• sensational
• sterling
• topflight
• noble
• crackerjack
• good
• first-class
• topping
• prize
• dynamite
• too much
• exceptional
• dandy
• high-class
• keen
• gone
• out of this world
• capital
• mean
• dope
• peachy
• number one
• first-rate
• splendid
• bumper
• fab
• first-string
• superlative
• righteous
• groovy
• swell
• top-notch
• top-shelf
• radical
• immense
• gangbuster
• blue-ribbon
• unsurpassed
• brag
• blue-chip
• supernal
• out-of-sight
• down
• A1
• okay
• primo
• nifty
• gangbusters
• better
• decent
• No. 1
• special
• numero uno
• bang-up
• peachy keen
• prizewinning
• phat
• tip-top
• top-of-the-line
• fantabulous
• corking
• A-OK
• gilt-edge
• boffo
• acceptable
• bonnie
• five-star
• all right
• satisfactory
• jim-dandy
• adequate
• bonny
• four-star
• hype
• OK
• traditional
• gilt-edged
• fancy
• tolerable
• classical
• premium
• passable
• high-grade
• select
• standard
• high-test
• superfine

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• poor
• terrible
• awful
• rotten
• lousy
• vile
• pathetic
• wretched
• bad
• atrocious
• inferior
• unsatisfactory
• substandard
• low-grade
• execrable
• mediocre
• second-class
• middling
• second-rate

boss

3 of 3

verb

ˈbȯs 

1

as in to supervise

to be in charge of

she bossed that project for years, until she was promoted again

Synonyms & Similar Words

• supervise
• oversee
• handle
• manage
• head
• command
• steer
• watch over
• direct
• captain
• control
• run
• guide
• superintend
• show
• overlook
• quarterback
• ride herd on
• order
• call the tune (for)
• call the shots (of)
• monitor
• administer
• shepherd
• preside (over)
• rule
• reign
• govern

2

as in to rule

to exercise authority or power over

bossed the entire job site for a year

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rule
• govern
• control
• captain
• dominate
• preside (over)
• command
• dictate
• manage
• domineer
• sway
• lead
• oversee
• head
• administer
• master
• supervise
• direct
• lord (it over)
• conduct
• regulate
• micromanage
• reign (over)
• conquer
• superintend
• oppress
• subdue
• subjugate
• tyrannize

3

as in to lead

to serve as leader of

bossed the entire gang of electricians on the construction project

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lead
• command
• captain
• head
• spearhead
• oversee
• control
• direct
• dominate
• manage
• supervise
• handle
• run
• govern
• regulate
• superintend

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• submit (to)
• serve
• yield (to)
• comply (with)
• follow
• obey
• bow (to)
• defer (to)

Examples of boss in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In one of the final scenes, the boys force their boss to dig graves for them at a seaside cemetery. —Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2024

Why did Alex wait so long to report what her boss did? —Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 24 Oct. 2024

Adjective

Verb

Dabney Coleman, the actor who bossed Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dolly Parton around in the 1980 comedy 9 to 5, died at his home in Santa Monica on Thursday. —Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 17 May 2024

Then came the awful task of telling my colleagues and bosses the humiliating story. —S.e. Cupp, New York Daily News, 26 Jan. 2024

Phrases Containing boss

• boss (around)
• boss man