as in commander
one in official command especially of a military force or base
reported directly to the fort's commanding officer
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Recent Examples of commanding officer
Nolan Cuevas, the Tahoma’s commanding officer, said in a statement.
—
David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 14 May 2026
Yargosz, the commanding officer at the Navy base, said after the ribbon-cutting ceremony that schools like the new Forrestal will create a good learning environment for both military and civilian children.
—Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
His previous occupation was recorded as a book binder — though a commanding officer later described him as an actor.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
No commanding officers or the commissioner were ever told about the claim letters, the summary says.
—ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for commanding officer
David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 14 May 2026
Yargosz, the commanding officer at the Navy base, said after the ribbon-cutting ceremony that schools like the new Forrestal will create a good learning environment for both military and civilian children.
—Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
His previous occupation was recorded as a book binder — though a commanding officer later described him as an actor.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
No commanding officers or the commissioner were ever told about the claim letters, the summary says.
—ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for commanding officer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commanding officer
Noun
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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
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During launch and landing, when the seats were assembled, to the left of the entrance was the seat of the pilot (NASA’s Victor Glover) and commander (NASA’s Reid Wiseman).—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
6 June 2026
Noun
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The State Police will also hire a civilian director to work alongside the academy’s commandant, and institute baseline physical and psychological screenings for recruits before the academy begins.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
20 May 2026
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Admiral Kevin Lunday, commandant of the Coast Guard, said the discovery reconnects the service to a defining moment in its history.—
Anthony Thompson,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Commanding officer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commanding%20officer. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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