Synonyms of commander

commander

noun

kə-ˈman-dər 

1

as in commandant

one in official command especially of a military force or base

a surrender of the fort by the commander without a single shot having been fired

Synonyms & Similar Words

• commandant
• captain
• commanding officer
• commander in chief
• commissioned officer
• field officer

2

as in captain

a person in overall command of a ship

the intrepid commander of the HMS Surprise

Synonyms & Similar Words

• captain
• skipper
• pilot
• admiral
• officer
• skip
• master
• sea captain
• commanding officer
• commodore
• vice admiral
• mate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• crew
• crewman
• crewmate

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of commander

According to a post from Josh Gill, the commander of the United Cajun Navy, a volunteer organization that helped with the search, Wells wanted to stay on the island to talk with a girl. — Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 8 July 2026

Military career After Barak’s tenure ended in 2001, Eisenkot was given positions as a commander of armed divisions. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 July 2026

Josh Gill, incident commander of the United Cajun Navy, said in a statement posted on social media on Sunday, July 5 that Wells had gone to Horn Island on a boat with friends and was last seen talking to a girl on the island’s north end. — Janelle Griffith, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026

Ryan O'Leary, former commander of Chosen Company, told me Russia's loss of widespread Starlink access significantly reduced forward drone deployments, strike capabilities and communications between units. — David Kirichenko, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

Phrases Containing commander

• commander in chief