Definition of commandernext
1
as in commandant
one in official command especially of a military force or base a surrender of the fort by the commander without a single shot having been fired

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2
as in captain
a person in overall command of a ship the intrepid commander of the HMS Surprise

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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 commander McCasland was the commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, and managed a science and technology program. Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2026 This adjustment apparently did the trick, for Integrity's heat shield survived its trial by fire in good shape, according to Artemis 2 commander Reid Wiseman. Mike Wall, Space.com, 17 Apr. 2026 Idris was appointed prime minister in May by SAF General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, the commander of the army and chair of the Transitional Sovereign Council, a supposedly civilian governing body. Laura Kelly, The Hill, 16 Apr. 2026 Ukraine’s top military commander Oleksandr Syrskyi said Wednesday that last month Ukrainian troops recaptured nearly 20 square miles of territory from Russian forces. Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for commander
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commander
Noun
  • Previously, warfare was about expensive platforms and precision strikes, driving a downsizing in military forces as countries increasingly relied on cutting-edge technology, said Blythe Crawford, former commandant of the RAF’s Air and Space Warfare Centre.
    Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2026
  • About 90 minutes after the lockdown took effect, the Naval Academy’s deputy commandant emailed students, telling them that as law enforcement worked to secure the school, a midshipman mistook police for a threat and engaged them, according to the official.
    Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Golden Knights captain Mark Stone played his 400th game for the franchise.
    ABC News, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
  • Having already won the Atlantic Division title, Buffalo (50-23-9) rested numerous starters, including captain Rasmus Dahlin and scoring leader Tage Thompson.
    CBS News, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Conner remains the winningest skipper in N2E history, dominating Best Elapsed Time seven times between 1989 and 1996 aboard the 60-foot catamaran Stars and Stripes.
    Richard Dunn, Oc Register, 16 Apr. 2026
  • Chennai buckled down Kolkata to 36-2 in the power play despite Ajinkya Rahane demoting himself down the order after the skipper struggled to give his team strong starts.
    ABC News, ABC News, 14 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Commander.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commander. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.

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