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
Military lawyers confirm contracts offer limited protection, as commanders prioritize operational effectiveness and battlefield proximity, reflecting Russia's ruthless model of warfare that trades personnel safety for tactical gains.
—
David Kirichenko,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
Ukrainian commanders said last week that Russian soldiers are attempting to infiltrate the outskirts of Kostyantynivka, an industrial city in Donetsk.
—
Aidan Stretch,
CBS News,
29 June 2026
In some cases, commanders overseeing the training had only recently assumed their positions, the investigations found.
—
ABC News,
26 June 2026
The money lines the pockets of the commanders.
—
Janine Di Giovanni,
Vanity Fair,
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
For most of American history, military commanders took for granted that infectious disease could cost them a war, which is why vaccination was considered a matter of military readiness rather than personal choice.
—
Katrine L. Wallace,
The Conversation,
24 June 2026
Militia commanders were already feeling slighted by their British overlords, and London’s stranglehold on trade and manufacturing caused still more resentment.
—
Ann Manov,
Harpers Magazine,
23 June 2026
For naval commanders operating there, information can be as valuable as firepower.
—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
22 June 2026
David Kirichenko,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
Ukrainian commanders said last week that Russian soldiers are attempting to infiltrate the outskirts of Kostyantynivka, an industrial city in Donetsk.
—
Aidan Stretch,
CBS News,
29 June 2026
In some cases, commanders overseeing the training had only recently assumed their positions, the investigations found.
—
ABC News,
26 June 2026
The money lines the pockets of the commanders.
—
Janine Di Giovanni,
Vanity Fair,
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
For most of American history, military commanders took for granted that infectious disease could cost them a war, which is why vaccination was considered a matter of military readiness rather than personal choice.
—
Katrine L. Wallace,
The Conversation,
24 June 2026
Militia commanders were already feeling slighted by their British overlords, and London’s stranglehold on trade and manufacturing caused still more resentment.
—
Ann Manov,
Harpers Magazine,
23 June 2026
For naval commanders operating there, information can be as valuable as firepower.
—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
22 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commanders
Noun
-
The chefs consulted the team captains to understand their needs.
-
Celebrini was one of five alternate captains the Sharks had this past season, joining defensemen Mario Ferraro and forwards Barclay Goodrow, Tyler Toffoli and Alexander Wennberg.
Noun
-
Ludwig says many breakfast skippers end up overeating at night.
-
In terms of skippers, our Frank Selee might rightly be considered more philosopher than a pugilist.
Noun
-
The pilots reported the laser strike while flying over Bedford Township.
-
The Next Phase Of Enterprise AI Successful pilots and successful enterprise deployments are very different things.
Cite this Entry
“Commanders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commanders. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
