commanding officer

Definition of commanding officernext
as in commander
one in official command especially of a military force or base reported directly to the fort's commanding officer

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 commanding officer Another probe involves James McCarthy, the current assistant chief and commanding officer of the Manhattan South precinct, and former Deputy Commissioner of Public Information Tarik Sheppard, who retired last year. Anna Schecter, CBS News, 24 June 2026 Fergie quickly learned that all commanding officers were White, and no Black troops could achieve a rank higher than sergeant. Literary Hub, 16 June 2026 Cruise played Chief John Anderton, the commanding officer of the precrime unit, while Farrell played Danny Witwer, an agent from the Department of Justice. Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 12 June 2026 Tristan Oliveria, the commanding officer, later said the employee was swimming with a colleague during a lunch break when the attack happened. Doha Madani, NBC news, 9 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for commanding officer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commanding officer
Noun
  • In the past two weeks, Ukrainian drones have struck 172 vessels belonging to Russia’s shadow fleet in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, according to Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces.
    Tim Lister, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
  • Before achieving fame as a pilot, Baracca was an accomplished cavalry commander and horseman.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 17 July 2026
Noun
  • Trump fired the woman commandant of the Coast Guard, the Black combat-veteran Air Force general who was the chair of the Joint Chiefs, and the first woman to be the chief of naval operations.
    David Remnick, New Yorker, 17 June 2026
  • 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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Cite this Entry

“Commanding officer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commanding%20officer. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

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