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Synonyms

bossy

1 American  
[baw-see, bos-ee] / ˈbɔ si, ˈbɒs i /

adjective

bossier, bossiest

  1. given to ordering people about; overly authoritative; domineering.

    Synonyms:
    abrasive, overbearing, dictatorial, officious, high-handed
bossy 2 American  
[baw-see, bos-ee] / ˈbɔ si, ˈbɒs i /

adjective

bossier, bossiest

  1. studded with knoblike or projecting parts.

bossy 3 American  
[bos-ee, baw-see] / ˈbɒs i, ˈbɔ si /

noun

plural

bossies

  1. a familiar name for a cow or calf.

bossy 1 British  
/ ˈbɒsɪ /

adjective

  1. informal domineering, overbearing, or authoritarian

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
bossy 2 British  
/ ˈbɒsɪ /

adjective

  1. (of furniture) ornamented with bosses

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • bossily adverb
  • bossiness noun

Etymology

Origin of bossy1

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85; boss 1 + -y 1

Origin of bossy2

First recorded in 1535–45; boss 2 + -y 1

Origin of bossy3

An Americanism dating back to 1835–45; boss 3 + -y 2

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“Your mother, Karli,” Lizzie said, with a smile, “she is a most excellent nurse, and I am sure she is an excellent mother too, but she can be rather bossy sometimes. Am I right?”

From Literature

The two delight in discovering each other’s cultural differences, even if the alien is occasionally bossy and annoying, say when Rocky bleats “Dirty! Dirty!” upon entering Grace’s astral man cave.

From Los Angeles Times

In some ways she was loud and bossy and not always considerate, but on the other hand she was so full of energy and fun and playful.

From Literature

The prince of the Red Woods, while having a tendency to be a little mean and bossy, could be fun to have around.

From Literature

A not-dumb question popped into the boy’s head: Are you competing for bossiest person of the year?

From Literature

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.