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
Colby Gordon, Austin American Statesman, 15 Mar. 2026
The group appeared to be sorted into four teams managed by captains who docked workers’ salaries by $1 per mistake made on applications or for incorrect roles.
—Lisa Cavazuti, NBC news, 15 Mar. 2026
The real danger in the Strait of Hormuz isn’t that ship captains can’t find their own positions.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 12 Mar. 2026
Shanahan’s captains on the Wildcats FCC squad are quarterbacks Jayden Daniels (Washington Commanders) and Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals).
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
For Medway, senior captains Regan Longval and Anna Freeman led with 10 apiece.
—Brian Roach, Boston Herald, 10 Mar. 2026
Senior guards Jensen and Brehmer are team co-captains.
—Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 9 Mar. 2026
The Denver Broncos are bringing back one of the captains of a defense that ranked among the NFL’s best last season.
—Dianna Russini, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2026
The Strait of Hormuz isn’t completely closed as several daring ship captains have risked attacks from Iran to transport cargoes through the narrow Persian Gulf waterway, with some claiming to be Chinese.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2026
Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
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
Noun
One of the Eagles' captains, the junior defender had a strong season.
—Colby Gordon, Austin American Statesman, 15 Mar. 2026
The group appeared to be sorted into four teams managed by captains who docked workers’ salaries by $1 per mistake made on applications or for incorrect roles.
—Lisa Cavazuti, NBC news, 15 Mar. 2026
The real danger in the Strait of Hormuz isn’t that ship captains can’t find their own positions.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 12 Mar. 2026
Shanahan’s captains on the Wildcats FCC squad are quarterbacks Jayden Daniels (Washington Commanders) and Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals).
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
For Medway, senior captains Regan Longval and Anna Freeman led with 10 apiece.
—Brian Roach, Boston Herald, 10 Mar. 2026
Senior guards Jensen and Brehmer are team co-captains.
—Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 9 Mar. 2026
The Denver Broncos are bringing back one of the captains of a defense that ranked among the NFL’s best last season.
—Dianna Russini, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2026
The Strait of Hormuz isn’t completely closed as several daring ship captains have risked attacks from Iran to transport cargoes through the narrow Persian Gulf waterway, with some claiming to be Chinese.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2026
Verb
Tigertail, 36, who captains airboat tours through the Everglades, is navigating his boat through the only route available given how dry the park has gotten this year.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
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
-
He was killed in a strike on a Basij combat tent, where he was stationed with other Basij commanders.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Israel claims that 40 senior Iranian commanders were killed in its opening decapitation strike alone.—
Richard Goldberg,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In 2025, compliance checks dropped sharply to 369 after department leaders curtailed overtime spending amid a broader city budget crunch.—
Tony Plohetski,
Austin American Statesman,
19 Mar. 2026
-
What was intended to be a productive closed-door meeting with top Department of Justice leaders Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche turned into a standoff over whether Bondi would commit to appearing for an April 14 deposition subpoenaed by the House oversight committee.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But where does Ted Turner live now that other tycoons have bought up enough acreage to surpass his record?—
Katie Schultz,
Architectural Digest,
6 Feb. 2026
-
During the Cannes Film Festival, tycoons and oligarchs feature on the guest list, rubbing shoulders with high-profile celebrities who relax with croquet games between press junkets.—
Mary Winston Nicklin,
AFAR Media,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
According to articles 57 and 110 of the constitution, the supreme leader sets domestic and foreign policy and supervises all branches of the government, including the executive, legislature and judiciary.—
Eric Lob,
The Conversation,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The Executive Office for Immigration Review, which supervises the court, didn’t return a request for comment by press time.—
Caroline Kubzansky,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Though there's going to be a lot of debate on the bill, the Senate rules that require 60 votes to pass most legislative matters will remain intact.—
Allison Pecorin,
ABC News,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Yet one reason that Conan now rules the Oscars like the new Jimmy Kimmel, if not the new Billy Crystal, is that the jokes were trimmed of the cutting sharpness the Oscars have flirted with in the past.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The rival rallies in Budapest, which drew hundreds of thousands of people in support of Orbán's nationalist Fidesz party and Magyar's center-right Tisza, are being viewed as a barometer for which side commands more support as the campaign enters its final month.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Mar. 2026
-
The device then converts those signals into hand movement commands.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Now, skippers compete in races on different classes of ice boats.—
Noel Brennan,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
-
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
Noun
-
Younger urged his bosses to draft him.—
Nick Canepa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Texas sports bosses give big to politics.—
Philip Jankowski
Austin Bureau,
Dallas Morning News,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Captains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/captains. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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