1
as in commandants
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 captains
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 commanders
Because the Russian commanders keep attacking anyway, the Ukrainians are killing and wounding thousands of enemy soldiers, perhaps as many as 30,000, every month.
—
Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 7 June 2026
Ukrainian commanders have also been open about their systematic effort to erode Russian air defenses.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 4 June 2026
Adolf Hitler wasn’t completely fooled, and about four million mines were planted on the beaches, but the ruse worked well enough that, even as the landings got underway, some German commanders doubted Normandy was the main attack.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 June 2026
Rather than hunting enemy vessels directly, these ships act as floating surveillance platforms, gathering acoustic data that helps naval commanders understand activity beneath the ocean surface.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 1 June 2026
Many Naxal commanders are not taken alive.
—Dhruv Tikekar, CNN Money, 30 May 2026
Their rare testimonies, backed by aid and conflict data, depict permissive rules of engagement, rising Palestinian deaths — including children — and commanders signaling Israel is entrenching, not winding down, its Gaza campaign.
—Sam Mednick, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026
The airy confines of the stately home where Allied commanders are gathered provide both the grandeur and the contrast to the minutiae inked out on vast maps in the small hours of the night.
—Daniel Jonah Wolpert, NPR, 29 May 2026
Yes, the guys, especially the dentist (ick) and the icky bride-shopping commanders are creeping and disturbing.
—Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 7 June 2026
Ukrainian commanders have also been open about their systematic effort to erode Russian air defenses.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 4 June 2026
Adolf Hitler wasn’t completely fooled, and about four million mines were planted on the beaches, but the ruse worked well enough that, even as the landings got underway, some German commanders doubted Normandy was the main attack.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 June 2026
Rather than hunting enemy vessels directly, these ships act as floating surveillance platforms, gathering acoustic data that helps naval commanders understand activity beneath the ocean surface.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 1 June 2026
Many Naxal commanders are not taken alive.
—Dhruv Tikekar, CNN Money, 30 May 2026
Their rare testimonies, backed by aid and conflict data, depict permissive rules of engagement, rising Palestinian deaths — including children — and commanders signaling Israel is entrenching, not winding down, its Gaza campaign.
—Sam Mednick, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026
The airy confines of the stately home where Allied commanders are gathered provide both the grandeur and the contrast to the minutiae inked out on vast maps in the small hours of the night.
—Daniel Jonah Wolpert, NPR, 29 May 2026
Yes, the guys, especially the dentist (ick) and the icky bride-shopping commanders are creeping and disturbing.
—Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commanders
Noun
-
Seven European captains threatened to defy an order against wearing them, until, hours before England’s opening kickoff, FIFA announced that each would receive a yellow card.—
Chris Jones,
The Atlantic,
7 June 2026
-
Though the captains have collaborated more than in years past, Hansen admits trust still only goes so far among fishermen.—
Deirdre Durkan,
PEOPLE,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Ludwig says many breakfast skippers end up overeating at night.—
Lynn Andriani,
Martha Stewart,
13 May 2026
-
In terms of skippers, our Frank Selee might rightly be considered more philosopher than a pugilist.—
Tyler Estep,
AJC.com,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Museums are set up in hangars at Moton Field — one of five Tuskegee area training sites used for Black pilots, and the only one that still exists for the public to experience.—
USA TODAY Network,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
-
In early April, the US military had to launch a risky operation to rescue one of the pilots of a F-15E Strike Eagle that was shot down inside Iran.—
Todd Symons,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Commanders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commanders. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
