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

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2
as in captain
a person in overall command of a ship the intrepid commander of the HMS Surprise

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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 commander When the fort commander surrendered his sword, shrieks of glee ripped from the throats of the Green Mountain Boys. Caity Weaver, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2025 In Memphis, Tennessee, Police Chief Cerelyn Davis said that a small group of commanders had already arrived in the city, planning for the arrival of National Guard troops. Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025 With a certain commander-in-chief wading back into the Diddy drama this week, the judge has not issued a response to the request as of this morning. Dominic Patten, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2025 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is never mentioned; neither is Hamas commander Yahya Sinwar, the attacks’ mastermind. Alison Herman, Variety, 7 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for commander
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commander
Noun
  • In all, Camp Pendleton has 13,602 rooms, but only 11,692 were usable and only 2,393 met the commandant’s new standards, officials said.
    Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 23 Sep. 2025
  • David Forman, deputy commandant of midshipmen, a midshipman who mistook authorized law enforcement as a threat engaged and was injured in the process.
    Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • And two, that Bradley represents a test case for a 30-something captain.
    Brody Miller, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
  • Stacy’s husband, Mark, the captain of the 2nd Massachusetts, sipped a gleaming Capri Sun.
    Caity Weaver, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • On Tuesday, the Astros handed down their final decision on their second-year skipper, 50-year-old Joe Espada.
    Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
  • His decade-long run as Atlanta’s skipper was highlighted by the 2021 World Series title.
    Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Commander.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commander. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.

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