Synonyms of captains

captains 1 of 2

noun

plural of captain

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

• commanders
• skippers
• pilots
• admirals
• officers
• skips
• masters
• sea captains
• commodores
• commanding officers
• vice admirals
• mates

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• crews
• crewmen
• crewmates

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

• commanders
• commandants
• commanding officers
• commanders in chief
• commissioned officers
• field officers

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

• leaders
• bosses
• foremen
• chiefs
• masters
• managers
• commanders
• directors
• lords
• heads
• helmsmen
• administrators
• supervisors
• overseers
• superintendents
• headmen
• executives
• presidents
• taskmasters
• kingpins
• honchos
• governors
• generals
• jefes
• skippers
• principals
• rulers
• stewards
• kings
• boss men
• mistresses
• princes
• employers
• magnates
• superiors
• barons
• overlords
• figureheads
• sovereigns
• potentates
• leadmen
• standard-bearers
• bigwigs
• dominators
• czars
• hierarchs
• moguls
• straw bosses
• directresses
• higher-ups
• big guns
• top dogs
• gaffers
• coleaders
• gangers
• subchiefs
• top guns
• micromanagers
• big cheeses
• coheads
• subdirectors

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• subordinates
• subjects
• juniors
• dependents
• secondaries
• underlings
• inferiors

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

• tycoons
• magnates
• kings
• princes
• barons
• czars
• lords
• lions
• moguls
• monarchs
• stars
• Napoleons
• figures
• bigwigs
• notables
• VIPs
• heavyweights
• nabobs
• kahunas
• superstars
• big guns
• personages
• big shots
• big boys
• movers and shakers
• honchos
• celebrities
• biggies
• personalities
• big wheels
• nawabs
• heavies
• gods
• deities
• fat cats
• main men
• supremos
• pooh-bahs
• demigods
• big cheeses
• bigfeet

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• subordinates
• lightweights
• underlings
• half-pints
• inferiors
• small-timers
• nobodies
• zeros

captains

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of captain

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

• supervises
• oversees
• handles
• bosses
• commands
• heads
• manages
• steers
• guides
• quarterbacks
• orders
• watches over
• superintends
• controls
• directs
• runs
• monitors
• overlooks
• calls the tune (for)
• rides herd on
• shows
• shepherds
• calls the shots (of)
• administers
• rules
• presides (over)
• reigns
• governs

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

• rules
• governs
• bosses
• controls
• commands
• dictates
• dominates
• domineers
• presides (over)
• masters
• manages
• oversees
• leads
• sways
• administers
• heads
• supervises
• regulates
• conducts
• reigns (over)
• directs
• superintends
• lords (it over)
• micromanages
• conquers
• oppresses
• tyrannizes
• subjugates
• subdues

3

as in commands

to serve as leader of

you did a good job of captaining the team

Synonyms & Similar Words

• commands
• leads
• bosses
• heads
• oversees
• spearheads
• controls
• dominates
• supervises
• manages
• directs
• handles
• governs
• regulates
• superintends
• runs

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• yields (to)
• submits (to)
• follows
• serves
• obeys
• complies (with)
• bows (to)
• defers (to)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of captains

Noun

Ben Davies, James Maddison and Archie Gray will serve as third, fourth and fifth captains, respectively. — Elias Burke, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Nine starters return on defense, including co-captains and senior linebackers Brody Wheeler and Evan Courtney. — Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026

The two starred in the film in 2006, initially, as rival cheerleading captains. — Caché McClay, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026

Many dream of becoming captains and conquering the seas, but very few people, when looking at a massive cruise liner, seriously decide to build their own ship and set sail. — Filip Borcov, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026

Harbaugh’s three game captains were Dart, edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux and punter Jordan Stout. — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 15 Aug. 2026

Nearby, the Maritime Museum, housed in the 18th-century Grgurina Palace, tells the story of the captains and sailors who carried Kotor’s influence far beyond the bay, but save it for another visit if the afternoon is slipping away. — Jonathan Wiggin, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Aug. 2026

Meanwhile, Tétart destroyed Ligue 2 so badly that there were collusion allegations being made against league captains and coaches who voted on the MVP award. — Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Atherton’s sprawling estates have long been a magnet for captains of the tech industry and investors. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 30 July 2026

Verb

Star center back and veteran captain Virgil van Dijk also captains Liverpool, one of the biggest clubs in the world in England. — Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 11 June 2026

Hakimi, who captains Morocco and stars for Paris Saint-Germain, is regarded as one of the best right backs in the world. — Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 2 June 2026

Camberos, who captains the Mexican side and plays for the national team, played for Angel City and Bay FC in between a first stint with América and her current tenure, while Geyse last played for Gotham. — Tamerra Griffin, New York Times, 22 May 2026

Rozanov captains the re-named Boston Raiders in the TV adaptation. — Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 12 May 2026

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

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

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