commission 1 of 2

noun

kə-ˈmi-shən How to pronounce commission (audio)
Definition of commissionnext
1
as in mandate
the granting of power to perform various acts or duties President Jefferson's commission to Lewis and Clark to explore the Louisiana Territory

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in execution
the doing of an action a single burglar was responsible for the commission of all the break-ins

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in committee
a select group of persons assigned to consider or take action on some matter reported to a UN commission on the AIDS crisis

Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in appointment
the state or fact of being chosen for a position or duty her commission as head of the investigation

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

commission

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to appoint
to appoint as one's representative plans to commission a deputy to investigate the matter

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to enable
to give official or legal power to was commissioned lieutenant

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to task
to give a task, duty, or responsibility to was commissioned to do the biography

Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in to nominate
to pick (someone) by one's authority for a specific position or duty commissioned him to head the office of veterans affairs

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 commission
Noun
During a June 11 meeting where the commission reluctantly agreed to put the question on the ballot after a judge ordered them to do so, Gabela was one of the most vocal opponents of the deal, the terms of which date back to 2016 and 2017. — Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2026 The commission would have to hold three public hearings and could not make changes that intentionally favor a political party or unnecessarily divide communities. — Shaun Boyd, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
Verb
The watershed council commissioned a study, published in 2017 by Grand Valley State University, to evaluate the economic impact of the Huron River. — CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026 As part of that effort, The AJC commissioned background research on the two candidates seeking to become Georgia’s next governor. — Chris Joyner, AJC.com, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for commission
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commission
  1. mandate
  2. execution
  3. committee
  4. appointment
  5. appoint
  6. enable
  7. task
  8. nominate
Noun
  • When algorithms handle tactical execution, a leader’s primary mandate is cultural.
    — Alexandra J. Zanela, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Pro, who joined the museum in March after positions at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art and the Seattle Art Museum, said Ryan’s mandate is to elevate learning and public programs to the level of exhibitions.
    — Jane Horowitz, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of mandate
Noun
  • The 911 call recordings, as reported by the Associated Press, showed that first responders and prison officials did not know whether a request for emergency help from within the execution chamber was legitimate.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Some lawmakers worry broadcasting the execution could inspire more violence.
    — Erin Jones, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of execution
Noun
  • The provincial government said a committee had been formed to investigate the cause of the roof collapse of the three-story building.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Mejia’s subpoena, issued under his City Charter authority, came two and a half weeks after officials at LA28, the Olympic organizing committee, rejected his previous request to disclose the information.
    — James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of committee
Noun
  • Van Hoorebeeck, who was 37 years old at the time of her appointment, had spent five years as creative and brand director for the Danish brand &Tradition based in Copenhagen, after a stint as head of interior design for The Office Group.
    — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Al Hassan describes a doctor’s appointment where the doctor can review the patient’s history and risk information before deciding on treatment.
    — Inzamam Rashid, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of appointment
Verb
  • Santoyo, 72, was appointed by the state to the board of managers in 2016.
    — Sophia Veneziano, San Antonio Express-News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • These decisions were informed by the Council on Ethics, an independent body appointed by Norway's Ministry of Finance.
    — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of appoint
Verb
  • This would enable firms to communicate more effectively about issues, ensuring that any failures yield lessons that could be applied industry-wide.
    — James Peckham, PC Magazine, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Trump just last month signed into law legislation that enables him to tariff the top purchasers of Russian crude oil or gas.
    — Alex Harring, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of enable
Verb
  • Perseverance reached the milestone distance while traveling along the western rim of of Mars' Jezero Crater, where the rover has been tasked with investigating what scientists believe may be some of the oldest terrain in the solar system.
    — Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • In industrial optimization, AI may be tasked with reducing energy use, increasing production or improving quality.
    — Gregory Shahnovsky, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of task
Verb
  • His films have gone to Cannes multiple times, and he has been nominated for an International Emmy.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
  • For Boyd, being nominated is an opportunity to join some of the biggest names in South Florida high school football.
    — CBS Miami Team, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of nominate

Phrases Containing commission

Browse Nearby Words

commissary
commission
commissioned
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Commission.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commission. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on commission

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about commission

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of syncretic

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 16
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All