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
Scott Eden, Rolling Stone, 1 Feb. 2026
Team captains, including Harold Landry and Marcus Jones, said Williams’ presence alone inspired him.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 1 Feb. 2026
Since then there have been five other Yankee captains — Willie Randolph.
—Bill Madden, New York Daily News, 31 Jan. 2026
Vrabel and team captains are expected to address the crowd.
—Mike Toole, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
The brothers, captains for their respective teams, were thrust into the national hockey spotlight thanks to their performance, and fighting skills, for Team USA in the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off.
—Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 28 Jan. 2026
There will be handshakes, honorary captains to introduce.
—Darren Cooper, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
The two team captains for the game are Latin superstar singer J Balvin and YouTube creator and comedian Druski.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 27 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, Baltimore Sun, 10 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
Tech entrepreneurs eyeing cannabis resembled the ship captains of the age of exploration.
—Scott Eden, Rolling Stone, 1 Feb. 2026
Team captains, including Harold Landry and Marcus Jones, said Williams’ presence alone inspired him.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 1 Feb. 2026
Since then there have been five other Yankee captains — Willie Randolph.
—Bill Madden, New York Daily News, 31 Jan. 2026
Vrabel and team captains are expected to address the crowd.
—Mike Toole, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
The brothers, captains for their respective teams, were thrust into the national hockey spotlight thanks to their performance, and fighting skills, for Team USA in the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off.
—Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 28 Jan. 2026
There will be handshakes, honorary captains to introduce.
—Darren Cooper, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
The two team captains for the game are Latin superstar singer J Balvin and YouTube creator and comedian Druski.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 27 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, Baltimore Sun, 10 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
-
Iran launched multiple waves of missile and drone attacks at Israeli targets during that conflict, which started after Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran last year, killing several top military commanders and nuclear scientists.—
Oren Liebermann,
CNN Money,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Tuesday, during a status hearing in the ongoing consent decree, Snelling said the department’s 22 district commanders will soon face heightened scrutiny for officer misconduct allegations and the subsequent investigations into those claims.—
Sam Charles,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The two leaders were former allies who later became embroiled in bruising political disputes, deepening divisions in one of Asia's most unwieldy democracies.—
JIM GOMEZ THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The incident took place on the third floor bridge linking City Hall and City Hall East, which is currently displaying an exhibit of prominent Black women community leaders, according to Price spokesperson Angelina Valencia-Dumarot.—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Russia sold billions of dollars in weapons to the Venezuela army, from tanks and aircraft to air defense missiles, and Russian oil tycoons invested in Venezuelan oil fields.—
Daniel DePetris,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Rodriguez works at an after-school program in Orange County and supervises third graders.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Jan. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Autopsy rules Good's death a homicide More than two weeks after she was shot and killed by a federal immigration agent in Minnesota, the Hennepin County medical examiner's office ruled the death of Renee Good a homicide.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Because the Rams play in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday, NFL rules state that Scheelhaase can’t do in-person interviews until next week.—
Zac Jackson,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
When John commands Cal to cut his long hair, Cal rebels by dyeing it platinum and trimming it into a chin-length bob.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
-
At three stories and 27,000 square feet, the project commands attention, taking place on a lot previously occupied by three buildings.—
Bebe Hodges,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
30 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
-
Such actions may seem like an overzealous crusade against a fundamental—if loathed—feature of the modern workplace, but Rebecca Hinds, author of the new book Your Best Meeting Ever, says these bosses might not be going far enough.—
Claire Zillman,
Fortune,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Players can earn Candy and Candy XL for the raid bosses of that day.—
Gieson Cacho,
Mercury News,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Captains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/captains. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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