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
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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
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Recent Examples of commanders
Tehran will target residences of American and Israeli military commanders and political officials in the Middle East, the spokesman for Tehran's Khatam al-Anbiya military command headquarters said.
—
Charlene Gubash, NBC news, 30 Mar. 2026
One source previously told CNN the unit’s presence gives commanders more options for a range of contingencies.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2026
The 14-month war that ended in November 2024, severely weakened the group, with many of its political and military commanders killed.
—Arkansas Online, 26 Mar. 2026
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said he had been killed along with other senior naval commanders in a strike overnight.
—Jon Gambrell, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026
And so came, with American approval, the June 2025 12-day war in which Israel demolished Iranian air defenses, killed dozens of senior commanders and scientists, and, together with a one-day American intervention, smashed Iranian nuclear sites.
—Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2026
Their exact location is known only to a small group of officials, including the prime minister and senior naval commanders.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 23 Mar. 2026
At least 16% of seats in the Majlis, the parliament, are held by veterans or active commanders.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 22 Mar. 2026
Israel’s three-week campaign targets Iran’s Basij force across all levels, from commanders to street-level checkpoints, aiming to weaken the regime’s domestic control.
—Sarah El Deeb, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
Charlene Gubash, NBC news, 30 Mar. 2026
One source previously told CNN the unit’s presence gives commanders more options for a range of contingencies.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2026
The 14-month war that ended in November 2024, severely weakened the group, with many of its political and military commanders killed.
—Arkansas Online, 26 Mar. 2026
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said he had been killed along with other senior naval commanders in a strike overnight.
—Jon Gambrell, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026
And so came, with American approval, the June 2025 12-day war in which Israel demolished Iranian air defenses, killed dozens of senior commanders and scientists, and, together with a one-day American intervention, smashed Iranian nuclear sites.
—Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2026
Their exact location is known only to a small group of officials, including the prime minister and senior naval commanders.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 23 Mar. 2026
At least 16% of seats in the Majlis, the parliament, are held by veterans or active commanders.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 22 Mar. 2026
Israel’s three-week campaign targets Iran’s Basij force across all levels, from commanders to street-level checkpoints, aiming to weaken the regime’s domestic control.
—Sarah El Deeb, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commanders
Noun
-
The missing ships’ captains and crews are experienced sailors, convoy organizers Nuestra America said Friday.—
Sol Amaya,
CNN Money,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The captains and crews are experienced sailors, and both vessels are equipped with appropriate safety systems and signalling equipment.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Now, skippers compete in races on different classes of ice boats.—
Noel Brennan,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
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Keep your eyes open for Martial and Mallow scrub-hairstreaks, lyside sulphurs, malachites, and a variety of skippers fluttering among the blooms.—
Carrie Honaker,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
And later this year, once a series of pilots prove successful, Emerald and Nvidia will open the first power-flexible, commercial AI factory, Nvidia’s 96-megawatt Vera Rubin AI Factory Research Center, in Virginia.—
Jordan Blum,
Fortune,
31 Mar. 2026
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Antoine Forest, one of the two pilots killed in the crash at LaGuardia Airport, was a French-speaking Quebecer.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Commanders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commanders. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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