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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in directing
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in instructing
to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority
the general commanded his troops with Caesar-like imperiousness
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
Angel Saunders, People.com, 5 May 2025
Just a few days ago, the Golden State Warriors held a commanding 3-1 lead in a first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 3 May 2025
The Golden State Warriors travel to the Toyota Center to take on the Houston Rockets in Game 5 of the first round of the NBA Playoffs, with the Warriors holding a commanding 3-1 lead and the Rockets looking to extend the series.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
The Timberwolves had a commanding 2-0 lead over Denver in last year’s West semifinals.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for commanding
Adjective
His commanding presence, vision and belief that fashion is art helped shape what the Met Gala is presenting tonight.
—Angel Saunders, People.com, 5 May 2025
Just a few days ago, the Golden State Warriors held a commanding 3-1 lead in a first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 3 May 2025
The Golden State Warriors travel to the Toyota Center to take on the Houston Rockets in Game 5 of the first round of the NBA Playoffs, with the Warriors holding a commanding 3-1 lead and the Rockets looking to extend the series.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
The Timberwolves had a commanding 2-0 lead over Denver in last year’s West semifinals.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for commanding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commanding
Adjective
-
Heat, precipitation or not, the golf world is ecstatic to have landed in one of the nation’s most prominent sports cities for its second PGA championship in eight years.—
Shane Connuck,
Charlotte Observer,
13 May 2025
-
The gym makes its most prominent return in the universe's seventh installment, the beginning of the Creed franchise.—
Mekishana Pierre,
EW.com,
13 May 2025
Verb
-
The next year, Martin was accused of instructing staffers to regularly delete their emails to prevent them from becoming available to the media or public under the state’s Sunshine Law.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2025
-
Whitfield doubles down on his previous orders, instructing the former sheepherder to murder all the Duttons and dump their bodies in the lawless border town.—
Matt Cabral,
EW.com,
30 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Everest's unpredictable weather and difficult breathing conditions make this one of the most physically and mentally demanding climbs in the world.—
Samantha Stutsman,
People.com,
22 Mar. 2025
-
Israel is demanding the release of all the remaining hostages, living and dead, with stages of a ceasefire in between releases, according to the ministry.—
Nadine El-Bawab,
ABC News,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The death, in a hospital, was announced by the International Chess Federation, the game’s governing body.—
Dylan Loeb McClain,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2025
-
The cooperative’s governing documents guide the board’s decisions, outlining specific responsibilities and limitations.—
Gary Singer,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
After having Dirk Nowitzki, a foreign superstar who stuck with the team for his entire career, the team was looking forward to another player following suit.—
Daniel R. Depetris,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Apr. 2025
-
Not for this year’s draft, unfortunately, but having 2026 and 2027 picks from an aging Lightning squad isn’t a bad bet at all.—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Vancouver, meanwhile, fell short against the New York Rangers, despite thoroughly dominating play and out-chancing the struggling Rangers by a brutally lopsided margin.—
Thomas Drance,
The Athletic,
24 Mar. 2025
-
Outside cash is dominating the special election for a new county supervisor in the South Bay.—
Andrew Keatts,
Axios,
24 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
She was carried off by multiple people with the Trojans leading 13-2.—
Beth Harris,
Baltimore Sun,
25 Mar. 2025
-
They’ve also been accused of taunting Alex for two days in a row, leading him to cover his ears and rock back and forth in anxiety.—
Lina Ruiz,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The plaintiffs are asking the court to block the administration’s order, which puts Haitians at risk of being returned to a country overrun by deadly gangs.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
15 Mar. 2025
-
The Purple One was not pleased when his band started asking questions.—
Jordan Runtagh,
People.com,
15 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Commanding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commanding. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
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