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
In some cases, commanders overseeing the training had only recently assumed their positions, the investigations found.
—
ABC News,
26 June 2026
But the hopes for a civilian transition did not last long—in October 2021 the civilian government was ousted by a coup led by SAF commander General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, again aided by Hemedti, who still led the RSF.
—
Janine Di Giovanni,
Vanity Fair,
25 June 2026
The department also asserted that the sheriff’s decision to place the commander on administrative leave and refer him for investigation by an outside agency was justified and also required by court orders.
—
Rafael Carranza,
ProPublica,
25 June 2026
Given their recent debut on the battlefield, Israel hasn’t yet come up with a proper response, often leaving unit commanders to improvise solutions of varying effectiveness, such as mounting netting or cages on vehicles.
—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for commander
ABC News,
26 June 2026
But the hopes for a civilian transition did not last long—in October 2021 the civilian government was ousted by a coup led by SAF commander General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, again aided by Hemedti, who still led the RSF.
—
Janine Di Giovanni,
Vanity Fair,
25 June 2026
The department also asserted that the sheriff’s decision to place the commander on administrative leave and refer him for investigation by an outside agency was justified and also required by court orders.
—
Rafael Carranza,
ProPublica,
25 June 2026
Given their recent debut on the battlefield, Israel hasn’t yet come up with a proper response, often leaving unit commanders to improvise solutions of varying effectiveness, such as mounting netting or cages on vehicles.
—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for commander
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commander
Noun
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The State Police will also hire a civilian director to work alongside the academy’s commandant, and institute baseline physical and psychological screenings for recruits before the academy begins.
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Admiral Kevin Lunday, commandant of the Coast Guard, said the discovery reconnects the service to a defining moment in its history.
Noun
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Jean Potvin spent his last two seasons as an Islanders spare part while his brother and captain accepted the Stanley Cup the first two of four consecutive times.
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Her father Dudley Dunn -- a veteran of World War I and the son of Gray Dunn, a famed Mississippi River boat captain -- died in 1934, according to Sesser.
Noun
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Dodgers skipper Don Mattingly then challenged the call at the plate, but that call stood after another wait of 1 minute, 34 seconds.
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The Mets dismissed manager Buck Showalter with one year left on his contract to accommodate Stearns, allowing the executive to select his own skipper.
Cite this Entry
“Commander.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commander. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
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