command 1 of 2

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as in proficiency
a highly developed skill in or knowledge of something a command of French that is the result of a year spent in France as an exchange student

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in headquarters
the place from which a commander runs operations the general set up his command in the old port city

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4
as in seat
a place from which authority is exercised central command

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as in view
all that can be seen from a certain point from his mountain perch, the scout had a command of the entire valley

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command

2 of 2

verb

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as in to request
to request the doing of by virtue of one's authority the governor has commanded that all state flags be flown at half-mast

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as in to dominate
to look down on for centuries an imposing castle has commanded that stretch of the river

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7
as in to lead
to serve as leader of the head of the agency commands an army of workers trained to respond to the immediate needs of disaster victims

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8
as in to ask
to set or receive as a price commands a high fee for his decorating services

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun command contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of command are authority, control, dominion, jurisdiction, power, and sway. While all these words mean "the right to govern or rule or determine," command implies the power to make arbitrary decisions and compel obedience.

the army officer in command

When can authority be used instead of command?

The meanings of authority and command largely overlap; however, authority implies power for a specific purpose within specified limits.

granted the authority to manage her estate

In what contexts can control take the place of command?

Although the words control and command have much in common, control stresses the power to direct and restrain.

you are responsible for the students under your control

When is it sensible to use dominion instead of command?

While in some cases nearly identical to command, dominion stresses sovereign power or supreme authority.

given dominion over all the animals

When is jurisdiction a more appropriate choice than command?

While the synonyms jurisdiction and command are close in meaning, jurisdiction applies to official power exercised within prescribed limits.

the bureau having jurisdiction over parks

Where would power be a reasonable alternative to command?

The synonyms power and command are sometimes interchangeable, but power implies possession of ability to wield force, authority, or influence.

the power to mold public opinion

When might sway be a better fit than command?

In some situations, the words sway and command are roughly equivalent. However, sway suggests the extent of exercised power or influence.

the empire extended its sway over the region

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of command
Noun
Fastball command, two-seam, four-seam, was kind of all over the place. Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 July 2025 The robot, tired of always having to follow its charges’ dull commands, has hacked the program that governs its actions and achieved free will. Emma Stefansky, The Atlantic, 5 July 2025
Verb
Officers drew their service weapons and held Simpson at gunpoint while commanding him numerous times to drop his firearm. Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025 He was promoted to command the criminal investigation division as a lieutenant. Michael R. Wickline, Arkansas Online, 30 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for command
Recent Examples of Synonyms for command
Noun
  • Applying for a Nordstrom credit card is simple—just head to Nordstrom.com and follow the application instructions.
    Lauren Alexis Fisher, Footwear News, 30 June 2025
  • Judge Arun Subramanian sent his response to the jury around 2 p.m. reminding the panel to deliberate and to follow his instructions on the law.
    Larry Neumeister, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2025
Noun
  • Schools will be required to provide early intervention for K-8 students at-risk of not meeting grade level proficiency.
    Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2025
  • Maybe letting users make lists is less about an accrual of cultural proficiency and more about extending empathy to the poor celebs who put their own taste on the line.
    Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 24 June 2025
Noun
  • In traditional robots, a control system analyzes sensory data and tells the machine what to do.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 29 June 2025
  • Ranged across the top of the SoundLink Plus there is a strip of soft-touch controls for turning the speaker on and off, initiating Bluetooth pairing, syncing with other Bose speakers, as well as playing and pausing music, skipping tracks and adjusting volume levels.
    Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
Noun
  • According to StreetEasy, there are plenty of units available to buy, though only one to rent: a $49,500-per-month three-bedroom with views of the Hudson River and sort of disappointingly gray custom Bulthaup cabinetry.
    Brendan O'Connor, Curbed, 7 July 2025
  • Experts have criticized the view that trade deficits are inherently bad and questioned whether the U.S. can or should seek to close them.
    Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 7 July 2025
Verb
  • Some of those claims were dismissed by a judge in 2024, but the lawsuit was still ordered to move forward; in June, however, Lizzo filed an appeal aimed at shutting it down for good on the grounds that the dancers’ claims clashed with her First Amendment rights.
    Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 1 July 2025
  • The company has been ordering fireworks a year in advance, Marietta said.
    Tim Hrenchir, USA Today, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • The Justice Department also urged the Court to take up the matter and requested the appointment of an outside party to defend the lower court's ruling, given that the department no longer supports it.
    Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025
  • Not far away, Colt, who requested USA TODAY only use his first name for privacy reasons, was living a similar life.
    Greta Cross, USA Today, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • Our hope is that this data not only inspires, but demands more intentional hiring, marketing and investment in Black women.
    Essence, Essence, 7 July 2025
  • Advertisement Hamas, meanwhile, has vowed not to disband and is demanding a full withdrawal of the Israel Defense Force (IDF) from Gaza.
    Callum Sutherland, Time, 7 July 2025
Verb
  • Judge Arun Subramanian ruled the transcripts needed to be ready to share by 1pm ET.
    Tracy Wright , Lauryn Overhultz , Maria Paronich , Brendan McDonald, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2025
  • The Medical Examiner ruled that Allen’s cause of death was blunt force trauma and gunshot wounds, the arrest report states.
    David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 1 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Command.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/command. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

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