1
as in commander
a person in overall command of a ship
the captain is responsible for everything that happens to his ship in the course of a voyage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in commandant
one in official command especially of a military force or base
the captain of the largest army ever marshaled for battle in this country
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in leader
the person (as an employer or supervisor) who tells people and especially workers what to do
we only do what the captain tells us to, so it's not our fault when things don't work out
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in tycoon
a person of rank, power, or influence in a particular field
a fascinating magazine article profiling the captains of the American auto industry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to supervise
to be in charge of
if you do well on this, you'll be asked to captain the next mission
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to rule
to exercise authority or power over
captained the project for a few days while the boss was out of town
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3
as in to command
to serve as leader of
you did a good job of captaining the team
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of captain
Anna Rinderspacher, Glamour, 20 May 2026
In other Patriot League action, senior captain Tim Toland hit a walk-off single to score brother James Tolan to lift North Quincy to a 4-3 win over Plymouth South.
—Kristina Banahan, Boston Herald, 20 May 2026
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 May 2026
Emma Jenkins, Senior, Keller Fossil Ridge Jenkins captained Fossil Ridge to its first playoff appearance in 14 years, finishing the season with 15 goals.
—Charles Baggarly
may 7, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for captain
Noun
At the fictional Briar University, music enthusiast Hannah (Ella Bright) and the captain of the local ice hockey team, Garrett Graham (Belmont Cameli), initially meet by chance.
—Anna Rinderspacher, Glamour, 20 May 2026
In other Patriot League action, senior captain Tim Toland hit a walk-off single to score brother James Tolan to lift North Quincy to a 4-3 win over Plymouth South.
—Kristina Banahan, Boston Herald, 20 May 2026
Verb
The Dewberry partners with bespoke chartering club Barton & Gray, so when weather permits, hotel guests can reserve an outing aboard a classic Hinckley Talaria boat, fully captained for custom, catered excursions to remote beaches and intercoastal waterways.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 May 2026
Emma Jenkins, Senior, Keller Fossil Ridge Jenkins captained Fossil Ridge to its first playoff appearance in 14 years, finishing the season with 15 goals.
—Charles Baggarly
may 7, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for captain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for captain
Noun
-
As the attack unfolded on Sunday morning, Ukraine’s commander of the Unmanned System Forces posted a message on his official Telegram account, addressed to the residents of Patriarchy, one of Moscow’s elite residential districts.—
Kosta Gak,
CNN Money,
17 May 2026
-
Prosecutors allege Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi served as a commander for Kata’ib Hizballah and worked with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
Admiral Kevin Lunday, commandant of the Coast Guard, said the discovery reconnects the service to a defining moment in its history.—
Anthony Thompson,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Previously, warfare was about expensive platforms and precision strikes, driving a downsizing in military forces as countries increasingly relied on cutting-edge technology, said Blythe Crawford, former commandant of the RAF’s Air and Space Warfare Centre.—
Elsa Ohlen,
CNBC,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Conrad Weiser was a Pennsylvania German who had roamed the frontier for decades, learning the Indian languages and befriending Indian leaders, including some who encountered Washington in Ohio.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
-
Alexey Maishev | Afp | Getty Images As Russian President Vladimir Putin travels to China, Moscow's leader will be keen not only to bolster ties with Beijing but also to extract key wins in areas of trade and energy.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
19 May 2026
Noun
-
The ethnic Hutu business tycoon was indicted on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity for allegedly arming Hutu militias that massacred more than 800,000 mostly ethnic Tutsis in 1994.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
Washington Post,
16 May 2026
-
Nelson Peltz even officiated the couple’s vow renewal ceremony in August 2025 at the tycoon’s compound in Westchester, New York.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Her sisters Maria and Judith manage the circus and supervise show details, respectively.—
Andrea Flores,
Los Angeles Times,
19 May 2026
-
In Europe, Clinique La Prairie in Switzerland has become a flagship for the trend, with weeklong programs supervised by more than 50 specialized doctors and a growing audience of guests in their late thirties and forties focused on prevention.—
Hanna Wickes,
Sacbee.com,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
Hicks' cause of death was asphyxiation and his manner of death was ruled a suicide.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
16 May 2026
-
Since the North Carolina Supreme Court ruled against the arcades in 2022, police have started cracking down.—
Jeff A. Chamer
May 15,
Charlotte Observer,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
The parts that remained were commanded by captains.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
-
That performance helped Feehan take a commanding 4-0 lead into the seventh, which is when the game nearly went awry for the Shamrocks.—
Justin Barrasso,
Boston Herald,
19 May 2026
Noun
-
Earlier, skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto hit 87 as Bangladesh set Pakistan 268 for victory on Day 5.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 May 2026
-
Of the others, Olivier Boscagli and Diego Coppola have both struggled for game time with skipper Lewis Dunk and Jan Paul van Hecke dominant in the centre of defence.—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Captain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/captain. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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