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Authoritative vs Bossy - What's the difference?

authoritative | bossy |

As adjectives the difference between authoritative and bossy

is that authoritative is arising or originating from a figure of authority while bossy is tending to give orders to others, especially when unwarranted; domineering.

As a noun bossy is

a cow or calf.

authoritative

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Arising or originating from a figure of authority
    • The authoritative rules in this school come not from the headmaster but from the aged matron.
  • Highly accurate or definitive; treated or worthy of treatment as a scholarly authority
    • This book is the world's most authoritative guide to insect breeding habits.
  • Having a commanding style.
    • He instructed us in that booming, authoritative voice of his.

    Synonyms

    * (highly accurate) definitive; precise, proper * (from a position of authority) of record

    Derived terms

    * authoritatively * authoritativeness

    bossy

    English

    Etymology 1

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Tending to give orders to others, especially when unwarranted; domineering.
    • Synonyms
    * dictatorial, authoritarian, commanding, tyrannical, demanding, inflexible * see also

    Etymology 2

    Diminutive of dialectal English boss, as used in the term ).

    Noun

    (bossies)
  • (US, informal, dated) A cow or calf.
  • * about 1900 , O. Henry,
    • A week before, while riding the prairies, Raidler had come upon a sick and weakling calf deserted and bawling. Without dismounting he had reached and slung the distressed bossy across his saddle, and dropped it at the ranch for the boys to attend to.

    Etymology 3

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Ornamented with bosses; studded.
    • ----