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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of captains
Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2026
At the time, LAFD’s public information director position was vacant, but a staff roster shows that two captains and four firefighters were assigned to the Community Liaison Office.
—Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2026
Other captains chum with chunks of frozen herring and even chunks of squid.
—Steve Waters, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 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, 9 Apr. 2026
Powell, one of four team captains along with senior second baseman/outfielder Chayse Duerr, junior pitcher/outfielder Jordyn Botma and junior outfielder Olivia Treece, has gotten off to a hot start this season.
—Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
But that big gap in the middle—and the fact that many ships are hugging the northern shoreline—shows that captains were not eager to test the open-sea route without Tehran's approval.
—Jim Edwards, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2026
Co-captains Evan Hefez (SS), ace Jack Peabody and third-year starter James Warren (C) lead with fellow senior standout Owen Haaland.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 7 Apr. 2026
This is the latest installment of Crews on Cruise, a column spotlighting the people who work behind the scenes of the world’s most memorable voyages—from bartenders and entertainers to ship captains and expedition leaders.
—Ashlea Halpern, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2026
Jon Poorman, Houston Chronicle, 4 Apr. 2026
In February, a letter was published signed by 14 cricketing greats, including, among others, India’s Sunil Gavaskar and former England captains Nasser Hussain, Michael Atherton, and David Gower, demanding his prison conditions were improved.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
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
Outfielder Jung Hoo Lee captains the South Korean team that finished as runner-up to Team Japan in Pool C from Tokyo.
—Shayna Rubin, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 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
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
Noun
The latest example came when both captains dropped the gloves late in the second period.
—Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2026
At the time, LAFD’s public information director position was vacant, but a staff roster shows that two captains and four firefighters were assigned to the Community Liaison Office.
—Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2026
Other captains chum with chunks of frozen herring and even chunks of squid.
—Steve Waters, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 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, 9 Apr. 2026
Powell, one of four team captains along with senior second baseman/outfielder Chayse Duerr, junior pitcher/outfielder Jordyn Botma and junior outfielder Olivia Treece, has gotten off to a hot start this season.
—Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
But that big gap in the middle—and the fact that many ships are hugging the northern shoreline—shows that captains were not eager to test the open-sea route without Tehran's approval.
—Jim Edwards, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2026
Co-captains Evan Hefez (SS), ace Jack Peabody and third-year starter James Warren (C) lead with fellow senior standout Owen Haaland.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 7 Apr. 2026
This is the latest installment of Crews on Cruise, a column spotlighting the people who work behind the scenes of the world’s most memorable voyages—from bartenders and entertainers to ship captains and expedition leaders.
—Ashlea Halpern, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
Rush lost two of his top players to The Bennett School when Reeder and fellow senior Harper Gates, both now captains for the Rebels’ premiere team, decided to pursue the new opportunity.
—Jon Poorman, Houston Chronicle, 4 Apr. 2026
In February, a letter was published signed by 14 cricketing greats, including, among others, India’s Sunil Gavaskar and former England captains Nasser Hussain, Michael Atherton, and David Gower, demanding his prison conditions were improved.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
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
Outfielder Jung Hoo Lee captains the South Korean team that finished as runner-up to Team Japan in Pool C from Tokyo.
—Shayna Rubin, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for captains
Noun
-
By contrast, Russian drones have lagged as the Kremlin focuses on mass production of a few models over innovation, while senior military commanders have also been resistant to change, ISW said.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Despite the damage inflicted during the war—including the loss of senior commanders and military infrastructure—the Iranian state remains intact, and so does its core capacity for deterrence.—
Pegah Banihashemi,
Time,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Some leaders from southern states also turned up in Parliament dressed in black as a mark of protest.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Sharif dispatched Munir to Tehran for talks with Iranian leaders.—
April 16,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Steyer has most pointedly taken aim at tech company tycoons who have put millions into San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan’s campaign for governor.—
ANDREW GRAHAM,
Sacbee.com,
28 Mar. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
The Chinese government officially recognizes five religions — Buddhism, Taoism, Catholicism, Protestantism and Islam — and tightly supervises them.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The group recruits, trains and supervises volunteers who represent children in the foster care system in juvenile courts, according to its website.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Lottery rules state that winners have 180 days from the draw date to claim their prize.—
Senior Television,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Under California’s rules the top two candidates head from the primary to the November midterms.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This British name definitely commands attention.—
Lydia Wang,
Parents,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Their 6-11 son, when healthy and fit, has developed into a low-post force who often commands double teams and can stress the defense rolling off ball screens.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There’s also a growing crop of youngish skippers who made the managerial turn quite quickly after their playing days.—
Tyler Estep,
AJC.com,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Now, skippers compete in races on different classes of ice boats.—
Noel Brennan,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Sitting in the dugout, Snell nodded up to the field where some of those bosses — president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, general manager Brandon Gomes and Roberts — stood talking.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Apr. 2026
-
This is also important for staffers across the Capitol to see that their bosses don’t get to do this to them.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
12 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Captains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/captains. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
