1
as in commanders
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 commandants
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 leaders
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 tycoons
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 supervises
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 rules
to exercise authority or power over
captained the project for a few days while the boss was out of town
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in commands
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 captains
Charles Odum, Baltimore Sun, 10 Jan. 2026
Honorary captains Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber was an honorary captain for Indiana and watched the game from the Hoosiers sideline.
—Charles Odum, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2026
Weymouth is experienced and has the potential for a run, bolstered by senior captains Ryan Ferguson (forward), Mike Curry (forward), Colin Browning (defense) and Billy Lennon (goalie).
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
Honorary captains Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber was an honorary captain for Indiana and watched the game from the Hoosiers’ sideline.
—Dallas Morning News, 9 Jan. 2026
Among the deceased were colonels, lieutenants, majors and captains and some reserve soldiers, ranging in age from 26 to 60, The Associated Press reported.
—Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 7 Jan. 2026
Though there's no dedicated dive shop on Anegada, many hotels rent gear to guests and can recommend charter captains who know all the best spots.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 7 Jan. 2026
In a different universe, Barkov and Landeskog could be the captains of their rival countries at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan next month.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 6 Jan. 2026
The Weaver girls basketball team has three key seniors, all captains.
—Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 5 Jan. 2026
Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 7 Dec. 2025
Fernandez is also one of the main leaders in the dressing room and regularly captains Chelsea when Reece James is not on the pitch.
—Simon Johnson, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2025
As Olivia Walker in the Netflix thriller, the actress captains the White House's Situation Room with the world on the brink of nuclear war.
—Benjamin Vanhoose, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
And, John Kraus, who captains the Spirit, is ready.
—Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 13 Sep. 2025
Once the final direct qualifiers have been determined, captains Bradley and Luke Donald must select the remaining six members of their teams.
—Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025
Gracely, who usually captains larger vessels—oil tankers, container ships—described a stretch when the boat ran on battery power down the Atchafalaya River.
—Adam Iscoe, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Noun
Honorary captains Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber was an honorary captain for Indiana and watched the game from the Hoosiers’ sideline.
—Charles Odum, Baltimore Sun, 10 Jan. 2026
Honorary captains Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber was an honorary captain for Indiana and watched the game from the Hoosiers sideline.
—Charles Odum, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2026
Weymouth is experienced and has the potential for a run, bolstered by senior captains Ryan Ferguson (forward), Mike Curry (forward), Colin Browning (defense) and Billy Lennon (goalie).
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
Honorary captains Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber was an honorary captain for Indiana and watched the game from the Hoosiers’ sideline.
—Dallas Morning News, 9 Jan. 2026
Among the deceased were colonels, lieutenants, majors and captains and some reserve soldiers, ranging in age from 26 to 60, The Associated Press reported.
—Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 7 Jan. 2026
Though there's no dedicated dive shop on Anegada, many hotels rent gear to guests and can recommend charter captains who know all the best spots.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 7 Jan. 2026
In a different universe, Barkov and Landeskog could be the captains of their rival countries at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan next month.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 6 Jan. 2026
The Weaver girls basketball team has three key seniors, all captains.
—Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 5 Jan. 2026
Verb
Virgil Van Dijk, Netherlands defender Virgil Van Dijk, who captains Liverpool, has widely been regarded as the best defender in the world for the last eight years.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 7 Dec. 2025
Fernandez is also one of the main leaders in the dressing room and regularly captains Chelsea when Reece James is not on the pitch.
—Simon Johnson, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2025
As Olivia Walker in the Netflix thriller, the actress captains the White House's Situation Room with the world on the brink of nuclear war.
—Benjamin Vanhoose, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
And, John Kraus, who captains the Spirit, is ready.
—Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 13 Sep. 2025
Once the final direct qualifiers have been determined, captains Bradley and Luke Donald must select the remaining six members of their teams.
—Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025
Gracely, who usually captains larger vessels—oil tankers, container ships—described a stretch when the boat ran on battery power down the Atchafalaya River.
—Adam Iscoe, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for captains
Noun
-
Israel also killed senior Iranian commanders and struck symbolic regime targets.—
Karl Vick,
Time,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Behind the scenes, however, sources say panic is spreading within the armed forces, as commanders struggle to understand who is really in charge — and how far the United States is willing to go.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
City leaders in El Cajon decided the city will not store homeless individuals’ personal belongings after encampments are cleared.—
Hannah Elsmore,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Jan. 2026
-
City leaders approved a $27 million settlement in 2021 to resolve a wrongful death lawsuit brought by Floyd's family.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Amidst all those tech tycoons, luxury’s biggest name sits at seventh in the billionaire rankings.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
31 Dec. 2025
-
But managing type-A influencers and business tycoons is only part of the job.—
Corey Buhay,
Outside,
18 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The position directly supervises all parole agent specialists and parole agent supervisors assigned to the Division of Training Unit.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
January 5,
Sacbee.com,
5 Jan. 2026
-
The Holdovers Set in 1970s New England, The Holdovers follows a cranky prep school teacher (Paul Giamatti) who reluctantly supervises students stuck on campus over Christmas break.—
Lydia Price,
PEOPLE,
23 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The sector may face another twist if the US Supreme Court rules Trump’s tariffs were issued illegally, a decision that could come as soon as Friday.—
J.D. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
8 Jan. 2026
-
If the Supreme Court rules that Trump’s new tariffs are unlawful under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the court could then say that companies that have paid the duties so far are entitled to refunds.—
Jessica Dickler,
CNBC,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
For example, just six countries account for roughly two-thirds of mining production, and China alone commands about 40% of global smelting capacity.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Privately, however, sources described a violent struggle over control of the military— who commands it, who coordinates it — and who may soon deploy it against internal rivals.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Keep your eyes open for Martial and Mallow scrub-hairstreaks, lyside sulphurs, malachites, and a variety of skippers fluttering among the blooms.—
Carrie Honaker,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Dec. 2025
-
Yacht skippers do this with a compass, log, chart, dividers, a straightedge, and a bit of luck, as do small plane pilots.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
2 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
There is so much energy in Falk’s writing that the reader can feel tensions in the city as officials, some working secretly with the bosses, try to stop the cigar factory women from organizing, call them Communists and demean them for being Polish.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
11 Jan. 2026
-
This is a very special week to pitch ideas to bosses or powerful figures.—
Kyle Thomas,
PEOPLE,
11 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Captains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/captains. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.
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