command 1 of 2

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
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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4
as in seat
a place from which authority is exercised central command

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6
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

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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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6
as in to dominate
to look down on for centuries an imposing castle has commanded that stretch of the river

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7
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

8
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
Montes remained inside the home and continued to refuse commands to exit. Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 June 2025 That obviously matters in domestic politics, but in international affairs, too, where projecting strength and command are just as important. Rich Lowry, National Review, 23 June 2025
Verb
Many board positions were not hotly contested, and almost anyone could show up at a school board meeting and command their five minutes of airtime. Bannon would devote particular attention to schools. Ira Wells june 18, Literary Hub, 18 June 2025 Since 2000, movies rated PG-13 by the MPA have dominated the box office and often command more than 50% of the total marketshare. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 18 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for command
Recent Examples of Synonyms for command
Noun
  • Earlier instructions to stop antibiotics were premature, and a longer course was necessary.
    Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 June 2025
  • Where applicable, include order confirmations, status updates, and next-step instructions.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
Noun
  • Thankfully, there is a growing number of opportunities for younger and seasoned workers alike to level up their AI proficiency.
    Mark C. Perna, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
  • There was a 5% drop in 3- and 4-year-olds who were enrolled in school, a drop of 7% in math proficiency among eighth graders and a 4% drop in fourth graders who are proficient in reading.
    Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 12 June 2025
Noun
  • Because many of the scenes are shot through windows or doorways, the camera can seem sympathetic to Agnes’s struggle to regain control.
    Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 29 June 2025
  • The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 29 June 2025
Noun
  • The series garnered more than 190 million views in its premiere week alone, with over 60 million views in just the first week of availability.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 25 June 2025
  • At the heavily fortified Fordow Fuel Enrichment Facility, located deep beneath a mountain near Qom, satellite views reveal multiple craters along the primary access roads and directly at the entrances to tunnel complexes.
    Jasmine Baehr , Kyle Schmidbauer, FOXNews.com, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • Saturday’s strikes raised immediate questions about the extent of the U.S. involvement in the Middle East and about Trump’s authority to order the bombings without congressional approval.
    Brett Samuels, The Hill, 22 June 2025
  • Mahmoud Khalil greeted friends and spoke briefly to reporters Saturday at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey a day after a judge ordered his release from a federal immigration facility in Louisiana.
    Holly Ramer, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2025
Verb
  • Ohtani was not made available to reporters who requested him.
    Dennis Lin, New York Times, 18 June 2025
  • As a people leader, request that your staff turn their cell phones off in meetings.
    Martina Kuhlmeyer, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
Verb
  • Turning the page, Emerson wondered whether, had circumstance demanded, he might’ve been shown to possess a similar genius.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 25 June 2025
  • Trump demanded in a social media post that Israel stop dropping bombs to save the truce.
    Medora Lee, USA Today, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • Haines ruled that seven days is not enough time to get a court hearing, therefore being deported within seven days would violate someone's right to due process.
    Sophie Clark, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 June 2025
  • Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court to allow the ban to continue while litigation continued, and the court ruled in Labrador’s favor, resuming the ban in April 2024.
    Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 19 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Command.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/command. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

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