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
Steve Waters, Miami Herald, 9 May 2026
The expedition set sail on May 19, 1845, and was last seen in July 1845 in Baffin Bay by the captains of two whaling ships.
—ArsTechnica, 8 May 2026
That led to a federal investigation indicting 79 election judges and precinct captains, nearly all of whom pleaded guilty.
—Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026
This hotel, after all, was 300 years old, dating back to a pre-Revolutionary time when whaling captains built their fortunes on the high seas, and would return to Martha’s Vineyard to live large in their lavish homes.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 May 2026
Sierra Club Seal Society volunteers were team captains leading groups of participants in picking up trash at the Children’s Pool and heading south, and from Scripps Park past La Jolla Cove and to The Cave Store.
—Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 May 2026
Every new Raider is heralded for their high character, with several being multiple-time team captains.
—The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 4 May 2026
Obviously, Sid’s been one of the greatest captains ever during his time in Pittsburgh.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
This year, the event brought out about 30 veterans and nearly as many volunteer boat captains.
—Jamal Goss, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026
Tom Burrows, New York Times, 27 Apr. 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
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
In addition, the states will collect catch information from anglers and for-hire captains to monitor catches and gain insight into changes in angler behavior under pilot program requirements.
—Steve Waters, Miami Herald, 9 May 2026
The expedition set sail on May 19, 1845, and was last seen in July 1845 in Baffin Bay by the captains of two whaling ships.
—ArsTechnica, 8 May 2026
That led to a federal investigation indicting 79 election judges and precinct captains, nearly all of whom pleaded guilty.
—Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026
This hotel, after all, was 300 years old, dating back to a pre-Revolutionary time when whaling captains built their fortunes on the high seas, and would return to Martha’s Vineyard to live large in their lavish homes.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 May 2026
Sierra Club Seal Society volunteers were team captains leading groups of participants in picking up trash at the Children’s Pool and heading south, and from Scripps Park past La Jolla Cove and to The Cave Store.
—Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 May 2026
Every new Raider is heralded for their high character, with several being multiple-time team captains.
—The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 4 May 2026
Obviously, Sid’s been one of the greatest captains ever during his time in Pittsburgh.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
This year, the event brought out about 30 veterans and nearly as many volunteer boat captains.
—Jamal Goss, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
Safonov, who also captains his country, signed for PSG two years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
—Tom Burrows, New York Times, 27 Apr. 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
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
-
But the logic that now organizes all of these institutions is increasingly shaped by security commanders and battlefield veterans whose formative experiences are defined not by negotiation but by confrontation.—
Hamidreza Azizi,
Time,
9 May 2026
-
That quick solution involved Putin extending the reach of his own Federal Protection Service (FSO) – which at that time only protected Gerasimov in the military command - to provide security to 10 more senior commanders.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
Following community debate over safety versus access to alternative mobility options, city leaders in La Mesa voted to ban e-bike use for riders under 12.—
Hannah Elsmore,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 May 2026
-
The leaders discussed trade on Thursday, with Xi saying that China’s door of opportunity will open wider.—
Will Weissert,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
Greek shipping tycoons, Morley said, may be intrigued by the glory of owning Onassis’s yacht; Middle Eastern oil magnates could have the means to buy a pricey piece of history.—
Michael Ballaban,
CNN Money,
9 May 2026
-
For the manifesto’s authors, a just fashion system enriches the lives of workers, their families and their communities, not the coffers of billionaire fashion tycoons.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Major Kevin Corbett, who works for the BSO’s detention department, testified that the rapper is kept in a 30-cell unit by himself and an emergency-response team — dressed in tactical attire — supervises him 24 hours a day.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
7 May 2026
-
The Chinese government officially recognizes five religions — Buddhism, Taoism, Catholicism, Protestantism and Islam — and tightly supervises them.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Technically, the Heat isn’t eligible to trade its 2026 first-round pick because NBA rules prevent teams from being without a first-round selection in two consecutive years.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
11 May 2026
-
So the Beef Court rules in favor of Rivers.—
Zach Harper,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Weekend nights, Cleotilde Juárez Ramírez commands this patch of sidewalk, wielding a comal the size of a satellite dish over a brazier.—
Ligaya Mishan,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
Leverage in the Shadows Beyond private credit, the broader non-bank financial sector carries elevated leverage that commands the Fed’s attention.—
Mayra Rodriguez Valladares,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
Ludwig says many breakfast skippers end up overeating at night.—
Lynn Andriani,
Martha Stewart,
13 May 2026
-
In terms of skippers, our Frank Selee might rightly be considered more philosopher than a pugilist.—
Tyler Estep,
AJC.com,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
The 12 years with the fastest employment growth saw bosses statewide increase staffing at an average rate of 3% per year.—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
7 May 2026
-
Steer clear of authority figures, bosses and the police, because anger and frustration might get you into trouble.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Captains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/captains. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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