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
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Recent Examples of commander
The Shenzhou-20 astronauts – mission commander Chen Dong, fighter pilot Chen Zhongrui and engineer Wang Jie – arrived at Tiangong in April for a six-month rotation.
—
Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2025
His most recent posting before commander-at-large was as the chief patrol agent of the El Centro Sector, also in California.
—Michael Loria, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Shenzhou 21 is carrying commander Zhang Lu, 48, a veteran of the 2022 Shenzhou 15 mission, and two rookie astronauts, Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang, who were chosen from China's third batch of astronauts, selected in 2020.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Bill Kimble, commander of the VFW Post 7907, said Tuesday’s ceremony will also mark the 15th anniversary of the Poway Veterans Memorial opening.
—Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for commander
Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2025
His most recent posting before commander-at-large was as the chief patrol agent of the El Centro Sector, also in California.
—Michael Loria, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Shenzhou 21 is carrying commander Zhang Lu, 48, a veteran of the 2022 Shenzhou 15 mission, and two rookie astronauts, Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang, who were chosen from China's third batch of astronauts, selected in 2020.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Bill Kimble, commander of the VFW Post 7907, said Tuesday’s ceremony will also mark the 15th anniversary of the Poway Veterans Memorial opening.
—Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for commander
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commander
Noun
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One of their leaders, a colonel of the Russian National Guard named Sergei Dovgan, began to act as the commandant of the surrounding town.—
Simon Shuster,
Time,
23 Oct. 2025
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On January 21, one day into the new presidency, the acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security fired Admiral Linda Fagan, the first female commandant of the Coast Guard, without stating a reason.—
Max Boot,
Foreign Affairs,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
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However, unlike last season, there was no sign to those within the Capitals that their captain was feeling the pressure of scoring another historic goal.—
Sean Gentille,
New York Times,
6 Nov. 2025
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Eddy came under fire after the op-ed published, with Angel City FC and the team's captain, center back Sarah Gorden, both denouncing the piece.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
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That decision could come as soon as this week, leaving the next skipper to assemble a coaching staff.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Nov. 2025
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The team will hire 33-year-old Blake Butera as their new skipper, per multiple reports.—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Commander.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commander. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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