Synonyms of captain

captain 1 of 2

noun

ˈkap-tən 

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

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• crew
• crewman
• crewmate

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

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

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

• leader
• boss
• foreman
• chief
• commander
• master
• manager
• director
• lord
• head
• helmsman
• administrator
• superintendent
• overseer
• supervisor
• headman
• president
• boss man
• taskmaster
• executive
• kingpin
• honcho
• skipper
• governor
• steward
• jefe
• principal
• general
• king
• mistress
• ruler
• overlord
• prince
• employer
• directress
• leadman
• superior
• figurehead
• baron
• sovereign
• magnate
• standard-bearer
• czar
• straw boss
• dominator
• potentate
• tsar
• mogul
• big gun
• hierarch
• bigwig
• top dog
• higher-up
• coleader
• sovran
• gaffer
• tzar
• top gun
• big cheese
• ganger
• cohead
• subchief
• micromanager
• subdirector

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• secondary
• junior
• subject
• dependent
• subordinate
• underling
• inferior

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

• tycoon
• magnate
• king
• prince
• lord
• czar
• baron
• star
• lion
• monarch
• tsar
• Napoleon
• mogul
• tzar
• fat cat
• personality
• big boy
• personage
• honcho
• big wheel
• big gun
• bigwig
• mover and shaker
• notable
• heavyweight
• nabob
• main man
• big cheese
• superstar
• nawab
• celebrity
• kahuna
• heavy
• VIP
• supremo
• god
• biggie
• big shot
• bigfoot
• deity
• demigod
• pooh-bah
• poo-bah
• figure

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lightweight
• half-pint
• subordinate
• underling
• nobody
• inferior
• small-timer
• nothing
• zero

captain

2 of 2

verb

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

• supervise
• oversee
• handle
• command
• boss
• manage
• steer
• watch over
• head
• control
• guide
• quarterback
• direct
• run
• superintend
• ride herd on
• overlook
• call the tune (for)
• order
• call the shots (of)
• show
• monitor
• administer
• shepherd
• preside (over)
• rule
• reign
• govern

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rule
• govern
• boss
• control
• command
• preside (over)
• dominate
• dictate
• domineer
• manage
• sway
• lead
• oversee
• administer
• master
• conduct
• head
• lord (it over)
• supervise
• regulate
• direct
• reign (over)
• superintend
• conquer
• oppress
• subdue
• micromanage
• subjugate
• tyrannize

3

as in to command

to serve as leader of

you did a good job of captaining the team

Synonyms & Similar Words

• command
• lead
• boss
• head
• spearhead
• oversee
• control
• dominate
• direct
• supervise
• manage
• handle
• govern
• regulate
• run
• superintend

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• serve
• submit (to)
• obey
• yield (to)
• follow
• comply (with)
• bow (to)
• defer (to)

Examples of captain in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

VCs know better than anyone that a great captain alone doesn’t a successful startup make. —Alexander Puutio, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024

Vancouver had been a forceful captain at sea, maligning much of his crew through his ill temper and liberal use of corporal punishment. —Corbin Reiff, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Oct. 2024

Verb

Ocean secrets An international team of experts using sonar has located the exploration ship Quest, once captained by Shackleton, off the coast of Canada. —Ashley Strickland, CNN, 15 June 2024

Trading Quickley and Barrett, however, removed the two players who captained the second unit. —Kristian Winfield, Hartford Courant, 11 Feb. 2024