bossier; bossiest
: inclined to domineer : dictatorial
bossiness noun
1
: marked by a swelling or roundness
2
: marked by bosses : studded

bossy

3 of 3

noun

plural bossies
: cow, calf

Examples of bossy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
But all the zaniness in the world can't mask that Bruce can be bossy. EW.com, 25 Oct. 2023 Angelica's best friend was often the saving grace when her pal's bossy behavior got, well, out of hand. Melissa Epifano, EW.com, 17 Aug. 2023 The situation is further plagued by a party of Germans, the guest-from-hell, Mrs. Richards, whose infuriating complaints prevent him from hiding a gambling win from his ever vigilant and bossy wife, Sybil. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 2 Feb. 2024 The entire cast of Dazed and Confused is excellent, but shout out to Austin Ambassador Matthew McConaughey in an iconic bit part and to Parker Posey's terrifyingly bossy, super-southern mean girl. Debby Wolfinsohn, EW.com, 15 Sep. 2023 The Velveteen Rabbit, meanwhile, endeavors to make friends with the inhabitants of William’s playroom, including the kind Wise Horse (voiced by Helena Bonham Carter), the bossy toy Car (Lois Chimimba) and the cranky King (Paterson Joseph). Amy Amatangelo, Los Angeles Times, 16 Nov. 2023 Many girls surveyed for The Girls Index expressed a fear of being called ‘bossy’ as a major factor in shying away from leadership roles. Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 20 Oct. 2023 Mensah is elegant, playful, and grounded; Williams is bossy, brassy, explosive, defensive, and, through it all, extremely lovable. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2023 Katie views Rachel as a freeloader, while Rachel finds Katie bossy and insufferable. Jon Frosch, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bossy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

boss entry 6

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

1882, in the meaning defined above

Adjective (2)

1543, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1843, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bossy was in 1543

Dictionary Entries Near bossy

Cite this Entry

“Bossy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bossy. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

bossy

adjective
ˈbȯ-sē
bossier; bossiest
: fond of ordering people around : domineering
bossiness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on bossy

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