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
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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
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Recent Examples of commander
That process requires an evaluation of the investigation by a detective’s sergeant, lieutenant and, ultimately, commander, according to a CPD spokesperson.
—
Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Frank Michaux Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen had planned to blast off next Friday, assuming a leak-free fueling test Saturday.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
Rudd is the deputy commander of the Indo-Pacific Command.
—Arkansas Online, 30 Jan. 2026
In November, a Chicago federal judge put similar limits on the use of force and said a Border Patrol commander lied about threats faced by officers.
—Ed White, Fortune, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for commander
Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Frank Michaux Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen had planned to blast off next Friday, assuming a leak-free fueling test Saturday.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
Rudd is the deputy commander of the Indo-Pacific Command.
—Arkansas Online, 30 Jan. 2026
In November, a Chicago federal judge put similar limits on the use of force and said a Border Patrol commander lied about threats faced by officers.
—Ed White, Fortune, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for commander
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commander
Noun
-
Camp Lejeune’s commandant—a man who commanded both respect and wonder—hosted a reception to introduce us to base and community leadership.—
Jay Sloves,
Hartford Courant,
20 Jan. 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
-
Their captain’s contract expires in June, and there are doubts about his renewal.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2026
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Each team has a skip (a captain) and a vice-skip.—
Ben Morse,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Brown gives Espada autonomy on all lineup decisions, so the skipper’s words carry more cachet in this discussion.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2026
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That could be merely some wishful thinking from the skipper, or it could be informed by the workouts and progress Thomson has seen up close.—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Commander.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commander. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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