1
as in presiding
highest in rank or authority
with the death of the general, he instantly became the commanding officer on the field of battle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in prominent
likely to attract attention
even in a room filled with world leaders, he was a commanding presence
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in directing
Related Words
1
as in instructing
to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority
the general commanded his troops with Caesar-like imperiousness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ordering
to request the doing of by virtue of one's authority
the governor has commanded that all state flags be flown at half-mast
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in demanding
to ask for (something) earnestly or with authority
an act of courage that commands the admiration of all who witnessed it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in governing
to exercise authority or power over
a cabinet secretary who commands the largest department in the federal government
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5
as in having
to keep, control, or experience as one's own
local government does not command the resources that are needed to respond to such a huge disaster
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in dominating
to look down on
for centuries an imposing castle has commanded that stretch of the river
Synonyms & Similar Words
7
as in leading
to serve as leader of
the head of the agency commands an army of workers trained to respond to the immediate needs of disaster victims
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in asking
to set or receive as a price
commands a high fee for his decorating services
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of commanding
Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 May 2026
Xi’s expected to be a commanding presence as host, opposite a US president known more for relying on gut instinct than meticulous preparation.
—Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 13 May 2026
Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 4 May 2026
And then there’s Bottner’s singing voice; from the deepest corner of his lungs comes a commanding bellow with a low, rattling timbre, like a cross between Bill Callahan and Jason Molina.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 22 Apr. 2026
Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 12 June 2026
The Knicks have now taken a commanding 3-1 Finals lead with the series shifting to Frost Bank Center for Game 5 on Saturday.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for commanding
Adjective
Lebidine’s last assignment was as the commanding general of the 4th Marine Division from November 2015 to April 2017.
—Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 May 2026
Xi’s expected to be a commanding presence as host, opposite a US president known more for relying on gut instinct than meticulous preparation.
—Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 13 May 2026
Noun
Cole, a contractor who specializes in building restaurants, is the Lexington Minute Men's captain commanding.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 4 May 2026
And then there’s Bottner’s singing voice; from the deepest corner of his lungs comes a commanding bellow with a low, rattling timbre, like a cross between Bill Callahan and Jason Molina.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 22 Apr. 2026
Verb
But through four games, with the Knicks holding a commanding 3-1 series lead, Wembanyama has done little to justify the hype.
—Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 12 June 2026
The Knicks have now taken a commanding 3-1 Finals lead with the series shifting to Frost Bank Center for Game 5 on Saturday.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for commanding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commanding
Adjective
-
Cultus Lake Waterpark's chief administrative officer, Andrew Steunenberg, reportedly said those injured were not in the water or on any rides at the time of the incident.—
Natalia Senanayake,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
-
In the show, Morrissey plays headmaster Michael Polly, who becomes the chief suspect when his wife goes missing and who remains inscrutable for most of the six episodes.—
Simon Button,
Variety,
16 June 2026
Adjective
-
The durability of this group will play a prominent role in the defense’s overall success.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
-
Having faced considerable losses already and staring down more to come, many of the prominent combatants spend Season 3 in an existential crisis, which lends the series a similar atmosphere.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
Taylor’s career has evolved across music, film, television, directing and fashion.—
Naomi Jeffries,
HollywoodReporter,
9 June 2026
-
Presented by The American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League, the Tony Awards are considered the most prestigious honors in theater, recognizing excellence across acting, directing, design and more.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
Earlier this month, CBS News reported that lawyers for the center were instructing staff to immediately begin the process of switching the name of the facility back to its original title.—
Kathryn Watson,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
-
Businesses have been boarding up storefronts in Geneva, a center for United Nations offices, while some institutions like the World Trade Organization, which faced anti-capitalist protests in Seattle in the 1990s, are closing offices and instructing staff to work remotely.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Here are straight answers to the questions people ask most before ordering an at-home microbiome test.—
Ryan Brennan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 June 2026
-
This new guidance moves beyond just coffee, soda, water and food leftover containers and will allow additional forms of reuse, like permitting customers to use their own multi-use containers at salad bars or when ordering food from a food truck if the container is clean and sanitized.—
Kelley Dennings,
The Orlando Sentinel,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
Rehearsals are mandatory, with a demanding schedule extending through the NFL season.—
Maddie Garfinkle,
PEOPLE,
17 June 2026
-
The company plans to use advanced computing tools to accelerate design work and evaluate performance under demanding conditions.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
The organization noted that Skydive Kansas City is a member in good standing of the sport’s governing body, and is cooperating with local authorities and federal investigators to determine the cause of the crash.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
-
Within a year, authorities must regulate procedures governing the country’s cattle identification and traceability systems and establish due diligence requirements for deforestation-free cattle ranching.—
Steven Grattan,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
Before Mexico-South Africa kicks off here in a few minutes, FIFA is marching in all 48 flags for the countries participating in the tournament and having the flag-bearers stand in a circle at midfield.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
12 June 2026
-
The genre by definition requires re-enactments, and does the act of gathering a bunch actors and going to Tehran (or Morocco) give more credibility to the project than having a computer do it?—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Commanding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commanding. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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