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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in captain
a person in overall command of a ship
the intrepid commander of the HMS Surprise
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
The tariffs have tested the relationship between the commander-in-chief and the chief executive of one of the world’s most valuable companies.
—
Jennifer Elias, CNBC, 20 Feb. 2026
If no out-of-limits leaks or other major problems are detected, Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen will go into pre-flight medical quarantine Friday, aiming for launch on a flight around the far side of the moon as early as March 6.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026
The result is the ability to make disparate robotic systems work together and provide commanders with a universal command interface for controlling a heterogeneous fleet of drones.
—New Atlas, 19 Feb. 2026
The avalanche struck the group in steep, vertical terrain, said Greene, the incident commander.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for commander
Jennifer Elias, CNBC, 20 Feb. 2026
If no out-of-limits leaks or other major problems are detected, Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen will go into pre-flight medical quarantine Friday, aiming for launch on a flight around the far side of the moon as early as March 6.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026
The result is the ability to make disparate robotic systems work together and provide commanders with a universal command interface for controlling a heterogeneous fleet of drones.
—New Atlas, 19 Feb. 2026
The avalanche struck the group in steep, vertical terrain, said Greene, the incident commander.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for commander
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commander
Noun
-
The controversial wording was later removed after two Democratic lawmakers put a hold on Lunday’s nomination for commandant until the manual was changed.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Washington — The Senate confirmed Admiral Kevin Lunday as Coast Guard commandant Thursday night after agency guidance on the display of hate symbols such as swastikas and nooses was clarified.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
19 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Nick Buckler, captain of the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s special operations unit, credited members of the public with bringing the video to the attention of investigators.—
Alex Wigglesworth,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Boasting very cushy captain’s seats in the first two rows, Nissan stands out from other non-luxury brands that struggle with comfort.—
Marc D. Grasso,
Boston Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The winning skipper was a retired Marine Corps pilot named Reuben Snodgrass, from Ronkonkoma.—
Ben McGrath,
New Yorker,
23 Feb. 2026
-
For the new skipper, the true challenge was in the buildup.—
Haley Smilow,
Mercury News,
22 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Commander.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commander. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
