Synonyms of commander

commander

noun

kə-ˈman-dər 

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

• commandant
• captain
• commanding officer
• commander in chief
• commissioned officer
• field officer

2

as in captain

a person in overall command of a ship

the intrepid commander of the HMS Surprise

Synonyms & Similar Words

• captain
• skipper
• pilot
• admiral
• officer
• skip
• master
• sea captain
• commanding officer
• commodore
• vice admiral
• mate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• crew
• crewman
• crewmate

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of commander

To ensure compliance, three imperial princes were tasked with personally notifying senior Japanese military commanders of the surrender. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Aug. 2026

Fire crews continued to make progress battling three wildfires overnight, strengthening containment lines and mopping up a spot fire, an incident commander said Tuesday. — Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 4 Aug. 2026

During the near-disastrous Apollo 13 mission in 1970, commander Jim Lovell was informed of the successful impact while piloting his crippled spacecraft around the moon. — Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 4 Aug. 2026

For commanders at Fort Hood, the recruiting rebound is about more than reaching a numerical goal. — Brooke Taylor, FOXNews.com, 3 Aug. 2026

Phrases Containing commander

• commander in chief