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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in seats
a place from which authority is exercised
central command
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in controls
the right or means to command or control others
the army officer in command during the attack
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in orders
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 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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in rules
to exercise authority or power over
a cabinet secretary who commands the largest department in the federal government
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in asks
to set or receive as a price
commands a high fee for his decorating services
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 May 2026
However, the department's release said the man did not obey commands and, at one point, was seen pointing the gun at officers.
—Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 16 May 2026
One of the officers stopped their vehicle and gave the man verbal commands to get on the ground, but the man continued to fire at officers.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 14 May 2026
Santa Ana police have said that Lopez did not comply with the officer’s commands to not reach for the firearm, leading the officer to fire.
—Nathaniel Percy, Oc Register, 14 May 2026
Google analyzed an Android backdoor named PROMPTSPY that reportedly uses Google’s Gemini API to interpret smartphone interfaces, generate commands, and simulate user actions without direct human control.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 12 May 2026
Two computer monitors displayed a riot of overlapping windows, including an old, blocky software program called P-COM, which offered thirty-five types of commands.
—E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 7 May 2026
Apple’s software will now warn users about pasting commands into Terminal, calling it out as a potential malware threat.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 7 May 2026
Ligaya Mishan, New York Times, 11 May 2026
Leverage in the Shadows Beyond private credit, the broader non-bank financial sector carries elevated leverage that commands the Fed’s attention.
—Mayra Rodriguez Valladares, Forbes.com, 9 May 2026
Officials are still trying to determine what happened aboard the ship, which commands fares of up to $28,845 for a 46-day journey that includes a tour of the Antarctica Peninsula and stops in Tierra del Fuego on the southern edge of Argentina.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2026
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claims that the leader is lucid and exerting total control over the country that his office commands.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 1 May 2026
Following a surge of federal law enforcement in Minneapolis, for instance, Hamilton cited an Old Testament verse that commands Israelites to treat foreigners with love and fairness.
—ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026
Ad-pricing improvements and sharper targeting continue to drive roughly 30% year over year top-line growth — a number that commands respect at this scale.
—Michael Khouw, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2026
This vibrant shade of deep pink is adventurous, daring, and commands attention.
—Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Apr. 2026
Trump had to relent on a scheme to prosecute Fed Chair Jerome Powell for disobeying White House commands to cut interest rates.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 26 Apr. 2026
Noun
The suspect did not obey the commands and pointed his gun toward the officers, the chief said.
—Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 May 2026
However, the department's release said the man did not obey commands and, at one point, was seen pointing the gun at officers.
—Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 16 May 2026
One of the officers stopped their vehicle and gave the man verbal commands to get on the ground, but the man continued to fire at officers.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 14 May 2026
Santa Ana police have said that Lopez did not comply with the officer’s commands to not reach for the firearm, leading the officer to fire.
—Nathaniel Percy, Oc Register, 14 May 2026
Google analyzed an Android backdoor named PROMPTSPY that reportedly uses Google’s Gemini API to interpret smartphone interfaces, generate commands, and simulate user actions without direct human control.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 12 May 2026
Two computer monitors displayed a riot of overlapping windows, including an old, blocky software program called P-COM, which offered thirty-five types of commands.
—E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 7 May 2026
Apple’s software will now warn users about pasting commands into Terminal, calling it out as a potential malware threat.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 7 May 2026
Verb
Weekend nights, Cleotilde Juárez Ramírez commands this patch of sidewalk, wielding a comal the size of a satellite dish over a brazier.
—Ligaya Mishan, New York Times, 11 May 2026
Leverage in the Shadows Beyond private credit, the broader non-bank financial sector carries elevated leverage that commands the Fed’s attention.
—Mayra Rodriguez Valladares, Forbes.com, 9 May 2026
Officials are still trying to determine what happened aboard the ship, which commands fares of up to $28,845 for a 46-day journey that includes a tour of the Antarctica Peninsula and stops in Tierra del Fuego on the southern edge of Argentina.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2026
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claims that the leader is lucid and exerting total control over the country that his office commands.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 1 May 2026
Following a surge of federal law enforcement in Minneapolis, for instance, Hamilton cited an Old Testament verse that commands Israelites to treat foreigners with love and fairness.
—ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026
Ad-pricing improvements and sharper targeting continue to drive roughly 30% year over year top-line growth — a number that commands respect at this scale.
—Michael Khouw, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2026
This vibrant shade of deep pink is adventurous, daring, and commands attention.
—Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Apr. 2026
Trump had to relent on a scheme to prosecute Fed Chair Jerome Powell for disobeying White House commands to cut interest rates.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 26 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commands
Noun
-
The resulting disruptions include numerous school and business closings, remote work instructions and finding alternate sites for residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities.—
Nicholas Lentz,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
-
For the 2025 version, our approximately 10 pairings of drivers and navigators arrived on a Wednesday and convened at Monaco’s Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo to sign in and receive preliminary instructions for the next day’s start.—
Viju Mathew,
Robb Report,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
My history suggests very successful proficiencies in this model.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 May 2026
-
Lastly, players can also pick up more powerful weapons that grow stronger as their proficiencies increase.—
Gieson Cacho,
Mercury News,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The United States has already demonstrated this with export controls on advanced chips, restricting which nations can develop certain AI capabilities.—
David Liberman,
Fortune,
16 May 2026
-
In most cases, similar to engine controls, this climate control system can be checked for codes and the various modes manipulated with a scan tool.—
John Paul Senior Manager Public Affairs And Traffic Safety Aaa Northeast,
Hartford Courant,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
The spa The bright-white spa has six treatment rooms, an adults-only infinity pool with panoramic ocean views, and a full-service salon.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
-
There’s a reason the video has more than 16 million views in 22 hours since it was posted.—
Jon Root OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was always expected to live a quiet life — but she’s sent on an entirely different path when her mother, a general in the military, orders her to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become dragon riders, the elite of Navarre.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
11 May 2026
-
The story centers on Violet Sorrengail, whose plans for a quiet life are upended when her mother, a military general, orders her to join the brutal Basgiath War College and become one of several hundred candidates vying to become dragon riders.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
The lawsuit does not specify the amount Santana and Smith are seeking in damages, but the filing requests compensatory damages, punitive damages, attorney fees, a public retraction, and a correction.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
12 May 2026
-
The duo abided by the restaurant's dress code, which requests that customers wear business casual or dressy evening wear, per the website.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
As more people lean on chatbots to manage their health, researchers and patient advocates say this moment demands a new form of AI literacy.—
Cody Cottier,
Scientific American,
15 May 2026
-
At age 62 and a first-time grandpa, Sean Payton operates on the premise that everything that demands attention does not deserve attention.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Technically, the Heat isn’t eligible to trade its 2026 first-round pick because NBA rules prevent teams from being without a first-round selection in two consecutive years.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
11 May 2026
-
So the Beef Court rules in favor of Rivers.—
Zach Harper,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Commands.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commands. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
