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commands 1 of 2

noun

plural of command
1
as in instructions
a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned the captain's commands were followed without question

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Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in proficiencies
a highly developed skill in or knowledge of something a command of French that is the result of a year spent in France as an exchange student

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in headquarters
the place from which a commander runs operations the general set up his command in the old port city

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4
as in seats
a place from which authority is exercised central command

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5
as in controls
the right or means to command or control others the army officer in command during the attack

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6
as in views
all that can be seen from a certain point from his mountain perch, the scout had a command of the entire valley

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commands

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of command
1
as in orders
to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority the general commanded his troops with Caesar-like imperiousness

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2
as in requests
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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3
as in demands
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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4
as in rules
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 has
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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6
as in dominates
to look down on for centuries an imposing castle has commanded that stretch of the river

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7
as in leads
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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8
as in asks
to set or receive as a price commands a high fee for his decorating services

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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 commands
Noun
The entire maneuver required five separate commands sent from mission control, telling the spacecraft to roll, pitch, turn and burn its motor. — Tariq Malik, Space.com, 4 Sep. 2026 Finally, downstream controllers convert those predictions into hardware commands, such as firing a heating beam. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026 As Secret Service agents responded, DeFoor ignored all commands to stop and drop the weapon, according to charging documents. — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026 DeFoor ignored verbal commands to stop and drop the hammer and instead began smashing the panels of large historic glass windows at the front of the house. — Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026 Paying proxynet customers can also gain root by issuing a handful of Linux commands. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026 After the gunfire stopped, deputies continued issuing commands from behind their patrol vehicles. — Daniel Hunt august 29, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026 By July 4 the agents held permanent credentials and could execute commands as the service itself. — Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026 Sarajevans still remember his commands to the Serb gunmen pounding the Bosnian capital in early 1992. — Jovana Gec, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
Verb
There, wisteria blooms on trellises, raspberries ripen on bushes, a cold-plunge pool commands sweeping views of downtown Manhattan—and a chicken coop looms in the corner. — Ingrid Abramovitch, Architectural Digest, 10 Sep. 2026 The left brain, by contrast, commands language processing, and following a stroke to the left brain, a person can develop not only a communication disorder but often post-stroke depression as well. — Michael P.h. Stanley, STAT, 10 Sep. 2026 Even with his flaws, Bouchard commands a begrudging respect across the league. — Janson Duench, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026 Going any higher in the range, into Z06 and ZR1 territory, commands bravery and many, many more dollars. — Jerry Perez, The Drive, 3 Sep. 2026 Nuclear power currently commands more political attention, more corporate investment and more technological hype than at any point in at least three decades. — Interesting Engineering, 31 Aug. 2026 Big Ridley commands armies of extras, builds enormous sets and deploys cutting-edge visual effects to create places that no longer exist — or never did. — Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026 Unlike in the Senate, where Democratic votes can be necessary to overcome the 60-vote filibuster threshold, Jeffries commands a minority caucus in a chamber where Republicans can pass most legislation with a simple majority. — Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 15 Aug. 2026 Everything about Hathaway’s Rebecca Saint John commands your attention in Eileen. — Chris Bellamy, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commands
  1. instructions
  2. proficiencies
  3. controls
  4. views
  5. orders
  6. requests
  7. demands
  8. rules
Noun
  • How could lay people, in light of these instructions, come to a unanimous conclusion as to what Clancy was thinking?
    — Richard E. Vatz, Baltimore Sun, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The Moon squares structured Saturn, making unclear emails, shifting responsibilities, or poorly explained instructions especially frustrating.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of instructions
Noun
  • Flown today to familiarize new astronauts with working in a high-stress, dynamic environment and maintain pilots’ flight proficiencies, Johnson Space Center currently has a fleet of 14 active T-38 jets stationed out of nearby Ellington Airport.
    — Robert Pearlman, ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2026
  • My history suggests very successful proficiencies in this model.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2026
Definition of proficiencies
Noun
  • For households, parental controls allow restricting access to inappropriate and adult content.
    — StackCommerce Team, PC Magazine, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Potential support could cover siting, licensing, fabrication, safety-basis development, project controls and deployment planning for NANO Nuclear’s KRONOS MMR Energy System and portable microreactor designs.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of controls
Noun
  • Food and drink The property’s on-site restaurant serves decent New American fare in a room that offers the same excellent views as the penthouses, or on the hotel’s delightful terrace during the warmer months.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Sep. 2026
  • More than 75 acres unfold around the house, with sweeping views of both the Berkshire and Taconic Mountains.
    — Madeline Weinfield, Vogue, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of views
Verb
  • Patterns tell a story, such as a customer who orders from the same coffee shop every morning, books travel every March and recently started making payments to a competitor.
    — Jess Turner, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026
  • White House orders review of wolf protections The local concerns come as the federal government is reconsidering protections for wolves nationwide.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of orders
Verb
  • The motion requests that the hearing be set in November, according to a spokesperson for the Marion County Prosecutor's Office.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Proton Mail, acting as a proxy, requests the image and caches it on its own servers.
    — Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of requests
Verb
  • In a college football universe that demands increasing buy-in from donors to remain competitive, these are the series that ultimately matter to consumers.
    — Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
  • There is patience in that process, particularly in a fashion cycle that often demands immediate answers.
    — Michael Anthony Hall, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of demands
Verb
  • If the court rules in their favor, Kushner’s project may have to be halted.
    — Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Now, the federal court will hold off on further action until the appeals court rules on the case.
    — Helen Branswell, STAT, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of rules

Browse Nearby Words

command posts
commands
commas
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Cite this Entry

“Commands.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commands. Accessed 18 Sep. 2026.

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