COMMAND Synonyms: 251 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'command' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of command are authority , control , dominion , jurisdiction , power , and sway . While all these words mean "the right to govern or rule or determine," command implies the power to make arbitrary decisions and compel obedience. // the army officer in command

Q: When can 'authority' be used instead of 'command'?

The meanings of authority and command largely overlap; however, authority implies power for a specific purpose within specified limits. // granted the authority to manage her estate

Q: In what contexts can 'control' take the place of 'command'?

Although the words control and command have much in common, control stresses the power to direct and restrain. // you are responsible for the students under your control

Q: When is it sensible to use 'dominion' instead of 'command'?

While in some cases nearly identical to command , dominion stresses sovereign power or supreme authority. // given dominion over all the animals

Q: When is 'jurisdiction' a more appropriate choice than 'command'?

While the synonyms jurisdiction and command are close in meaning, jurisdiction applies to official power exercised within prescribed limits. // the bureau having jurisdiction over parks

Q: Where would 'power' be a reasonable alternative to 'command'?

The synonyms power and command are sometimes interchangeable, but power implies possession of ability to wield force, authority, or influence. // the power to mold public opinion

Q: When might 'sway' be a better fit than 'command'?

In some situations, the words sway and command are roughly equivalent. However, sway suggests the extent of exercised power or influence. // the empire extended its sway over the region

command 1 of 2

noun

Definition of command

as in instruction

a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned the captain's commands were followed without question

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Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in proficiency

a highly developed skill in or knowledge of something a command of French that is the result of a year spent in France as an exchange student

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in headquarters

the place from which a commander runs operations the general set up his command in the old port city

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as in seat

a place from which authority is exercised central command

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as in control

the right or means to command or control others the army officer in command during the attack

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in view

all that can be seen from a certain point from his mountain perch, the scout had a command of the entire valley

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command

2 of 2

verb

kə-ˈmand

as in to order

to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority the general commanded his troops with Caesar-like imperiousness

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as in to request

to request the doing of by virtue of one's authority the governor has commanded that all state flags be flown at half-mast

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as in to demand

to ask for (something) earnestly or with authority an act of courage that commands the admiration of all who witnessed it

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as in to rule

to exercise authority or power over a cabinet secretary who commands the largest department in the federal government

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as in to own

to keep, control, or experience as one's own local government does not command the resources that are needed to respond to such a huge disaster

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to dominate

to look down on for centuries an imposing castle has commanded that stretch of the river

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as in to lead

to serve as leader of the head of the agency commands an army of workers trained to respond to the immediate needs of disaster victims

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as in to ask

to set or receive as a price commands a high fee for his decorating services

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun command contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of command are authority, control, dominion, jurisdiction, power, and sway. While all these words mean "the right to govern or rule or determine," command implies the power to make arbitrary decisions and compel obedience.

the army officer in command

When can authority be used instead of command?

The meanings of authority and command largely overlap; however, authority implies power for a specific purpose within specified limits.

granted the authority to manage her estate

In what contexts can control take the place of command?

Although the words control and command have much in common, control stresses the power to direct and restrain.

you are responsible for the students under your control

When is it sensible to use dominion instead of command?

While in some cases nearly identical to command, dominion stresses sovereign power or supreme authority.

given dominion over all the animals

When is jurisdiction a more appropriate choice than command?

While the synonyms jurisdiction and command are close in meaning, jurisdiction applies to official power exercised within prescribed limits.

the bureau having jurisdiction over parks

Where would power be a reasonable alternative to command?

The synonyms power and command are sometimes interchangeable, but power implies possession of ability to wield force, authority, or influence.

the power to mold public opinion

When might sway be a better fit than command?

In some situations, the words sway and command are roughly equivalent. However, sway suggests the extent of exercised power or influence.

the empire extended its sway over the region

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 command

Noun

Those cases often centered on devices mistakenly activating or capturing speech that was not intended as a command. — Mackenzie Sigalos,annie Palmer, CNBC, 18 Oct. 2026 Robotic control package The robotic control package is developed to execute and translate commands between autonomy software and vehicle hardware. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026

Verb

Sebastian Roché, a policing specialist at France's National Center for Scientific Research, said their use can depend on the political needs of the government, which commands them. — ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026 New homes have traditionally commanded a price premium over existing homes, but that relationship has flipped over the past two years. — Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for command

Recent Examples of Synonyms for command

Noun

That role demands reliable equipment capable of transmitting strategic instructions during severe national security crises.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
Gartner expects more than 40% of agentic AI projects, which are projects built on AI that acts on its own rather than waiting for instructions, to be scrapped by the end of 2027, citing escalating costs and unclear business value among the reasons.

— Ciaran Cosgrave, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of instruction

Noun

Cheung said the training is intended to teach students that intimate examinations require more than medical knowledge and technical proficiency.

— Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 18 Oct. 2026
His proficiency, buoyed by his expensive taste and skill in daisy-chaining images together, got his foot in the door of the indie-rap revitalization.

— Matthew Ritchie, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of proficiency

Noun

At the end of September, leaders of several of the biggest AI companies went to the White House and signed an accord committing to internal risk controls, independent audits and board-level oversight of safety.

— Giorgos Tsetis, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
That includes colorblock styling, chunky knobs and physical controls, and simple shapes that make each device memorable and distinctive.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of control

Noun

Some markets are allowing individuals to express views on economic, political or business outcomes, while others hone in on sports, entertainment and pop culture events.

— Aneri Jambusaria, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
For the best views look 40-90 degrees away from the radiant, where the glowing trains left in the wake of the fast-moving meteors will be at their longest.

— Anthony Wood, Space.com, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of view

Verb

Xuan and Zhang, who have pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing through their attorneys, were ordered held in lieu of $20 million bail.

— James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
According to police, one of the suspects held a security guard at gunpoint, forced the guard to turn over his weapon and ordered him to face down on the ground before the group forced entry into the building.

— Karma Sabbah, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of order

Verb

The new agent would then deal with the team on the player's behalf in requesting a trade — which is rarely a pleasant conversation.

— Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026
That total included voters who requested ballots delivered by mail, as well as those who requested print-at-home ballots via email, the SBE said.

— Bryan Lynn, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of request

Verb

Speed, volume and rapidly shifting vectors are why a base of automation is required, while complexity and risk are the factors that demand human intervention.

— Carlos Morales, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Depending on the route, manufacturers can add protective layers and steel-wire armoring to help the cable withstand demanding conditions, particularly in shallower waters where anchors and fishing equipment pose greater risks.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of demand

Verb

Prosecutors can seek the death penalty in the case of a Miami-Dade man accused of having a witness killed for cooperating with the government, an appeals court has ruled.

— Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
The court ruled that the department lacked authority to collect state voter files, compare them with federal citizenship databases and use those comparisons to press states to remove voters deemed potentially ineligible.

— Thom Reilly, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of rule

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comma

command

commandant

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Style

“Command.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/command. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of command

noun

verb

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Phrases Containing command

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Cite this Entry

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