lord over
Boss others around
To lord over someone is to dominate or exercise authority over them in an overbearing way, often flaunting one's superior position: He lords his seniority over the junior staff.
The phrase carries connotations of arrogance—not just having power, but making sure others feel it.
Control through superior strength
- subjugateBring under dominion
- oppressUnjustly burden or dominate
- tyrannizeRule by oppression
- overpowerDefeat by superior force
control · master · rule · enslave · dictate · impose · bully · coerce
Supreme in power
- rulerOne who governs
- monarchHereditary supreme ruler
- tyrantCruel, absolute ruler
- despotRuler with absolute power
potentate · suzerain · feudal · liege · vassal · noble · aristocrat · baron
Exercise political control
- administerManage or dispense
- presideLead a formal gathering
- overseeManage and direct
- manageDirect or handle successfully
regulate · rule · jurisdiction · reign · command · direct · steward · supervise
Superior influence over others
- supremacyHighest rank or power
- ascendancyDominant power or influence
- hegemonyDominant group's control
- preeminenceSuperior status above others
predominance · upper hand · leverage · sway · influence · power · clout · mastery
dominate
Control through superior strength
overpower · control · master · rule · enslave · dictate · impose · bully · coerce · domineer
sovereign
Supreme in power
despot · potentate · suzerain · feudal · liege · vassal · noble · aristocrat · baron · magnate
govern
Exercise political control
- administerManage or dispense
- presideLead a formal gathering
- overseeManage and direct
manage · regulate · rule · jurisdiction · reign · command · direct · steward · supervise · head
dominance
Superior influence over others
- supremacyHighest rank or power
- ascendancyDominant power or influence
- hegemonyDominant group's control
preeminence · predominance · upper hand · leverage · sway · influence · power · clout · mastery · control
- powerauthority, electric power, nuclear power, solar power, wind power
- showing offboasting, bragged, show off, bragging, boasted
- oppressoppress, persecute, tyrannize, subjugate, dominate