Synonyms of commanding

commanding 1 of 3

adjective

kə-ˈman-diŋ 

1

as in presiding

highest in rank or authority

with the death of the general, he instantly became the commanding officer on the field of battle

Synonyms & Similar Words

• presiding
• chief
• leading
• supreme
• lead
• top
• foremost
• primary
• high
• senior
• first
• principal
• prime
• in charge
• head
• premier
• preeminent
• main
• managing
• controlling
• overseeing
• high-level
• dominant
• supervisory
• predominant
• supereminent
• directing
• reigning
• major
• sovereign
• superior
• paramount
• upper
• ruling
• ascendant
• predominate
• uppermost
• regnant
• topmost
• officiating
• grand
• ascendent
• sovran
• upmost

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• second
• less
• subordinate
• lower
• last
• secondary
• lesser
• ancillary
• inferior
• subsidiary
• lowly
• assisting
• under
• junior
• assistant
• deputy
• coadjutor

2

as in prominent

likely to attract attention

even in a room filled with world leaders, he was a commanding presence

Synonyms & Similar Words

• prominent
• noticeable
• dramatic
• remarkable
• striking
• impressive
• marked
• conspicuous
• pronounced
• brilliant
• arresting
• outstanding
• emphatic
• showy
• interesting
• flamboyant
• bold
• visible
• noisy
• distinguished
• loud
• salient
• eye-catching
• glaring
• splashy
• catchy
• notable
• kenspeckle
• recognizable
• discernable
• perceptible
• discernible
• grabby
• detectable
• observable
• ornate
• eminent
• noteworthy
• highlighted
• bodacious
• fascinating
• spectacular
• screaming
• absorbing
• extravagant
• fancy
• swanky
• swank
• flagrant
• riveting
• gaudy
• flashy
• enthralling
• garish
• engrossing
• glitzy
• ostentatious
• opulent
• jazzy
• tawdry
• meretricious
• florid
• howling
• overwrought
• spotlighted
• pretentious
• glittery
• hifalutin
• highfalutin
• overdone

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• subtle
• unobtrusive
• inconspicuous
• unremarkable
• hidden
• unnoticeable
• concealed
• faint
• obscure
• modest
• dim
• shrouded
• unemphatic
• unshowy
• insignificant
• unimportant
• unflamboyant
• quiet
• unaffected
• conservative
• plain
• simple
• undistinguished
• unassuming
• restrained
• understated
• subdued
• unpretentious
• muted
• unflashy
• toned-down

commanding

2 of 3

noun

as in directing

Synonyms & Similar Words

• directing
• ordering
• promotion
• facilitation
• fostering
• mandate
• licence
• delegation
• commendation
• empowerment
• authorization
• accreditation
• consignment
• license
• entrustment
• commission

commanding

3 of 3

verb

present participle of command

1

as in instructing

to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority

the general commanded his troops with Caesar-like imperiousness

Synonyms & Similar Words

• instructing
• telling
• ordering
• asking
• directing
• enjoining
• bidding
• begging
• charging
• advising
• adjuring
• requesting
• warning
• requiring
• appointing
• petitioning
• bossing (around)
• authorizing
• forcing
• controlling
• compelling
• leading
• beseeching
• assigning
• entreating
• managing
• supervising
• coercing
• commissioning
• overseeing
• superintending
• conducting
• obliging
• constraining
• counseling
• counselling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• obeying
• following
• keeping
• observing
• minding
• complying (with)

2

as in ordering

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

• ordering
• requesting
• asking
• directing
• requiring
• dictating
• demanding
• mandating
• decreeing
• calling for
• calling
• ordaining
• petitioning

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cancelling
• canceling
• rescinding
• countermanding

3

as in demanding

to ask for (something) earnestly or with authority

an act of courage that commands the admiration of all who witnessed it

Synonyms & Similar Words

• demanding
• requiring
• requesting
• claiming
• asking
• enjoining
• wanting
• exacting
• calling (for)
• needing
• pressing (for)
• insisting (on)
• clamoring (for)
• imposing
• taking
• necessitating
• stipulating (for)
• warranting
• questing
• pleading (for)
• harassing
• crying (for)
• requisitioning
• badgering
• hounding
• dunning

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• yielding
• giving up
• surrendering
• relinquishing

4

as in governing

to exercise authority or power over

a cabinet secretary who commands the largest department in the federal government

Synonyms & Similar Words

• governing
• ruling
• controlling
• dominating
• dictating
• managing
• domineering
• swaying
• presiding (over)
• leading
• overseeing
• captaining
• administering
• bossing
• regulating
• supervising
• conducting
• directing
• heading
• superintending
• mastering
• conquering
• oppressing
• micromanaging
• subduing
• reigning (over)
• tyrannizing
• subjugating
• lording (it over)

5

as in having

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

• having
• retaining
• owning
• possessing
• enjoying
• holding
• keeping
• reserving
• withholding
• carrying
• rejoicing in
• boasting
• bearing
• sporting
• showing off

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lacking
• wanting
• yielding
• relinquishing
• abandoning
• ceding
• surrendering
• renouncing
• dumping
• requiring
• discarding
• declining
• rejecting
• handing over
• needing
• disclaiming
• repudiating
• disowning
• spurning

6

as in dominating

to look down on

for centuries an imposing castle has commanded that stretch of the river

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dominating
• overlooking
• facing
• fronting

7

as in leading

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

• leading
• captaining
• heading
• overseeing
• controlling
• directing
• dominating
• managing
• spearheading
• bossing
• supervising
• governing
• handling
• regulating
• running
• superintending

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• serving
• following
• obeying
• submitting (to)
• yielding (to)
• complying (with)
• bowing (to)
• deferring (to)

8

as in asking

to set or receive as a price

commands a high fee for his decorating services

Synonyms & Similar Words

• asking
• charging
• demanding
• fetching
• bringing
• selling (for)
• assessing
• discounting
• pricing
• overcharging
• valuing
• marking up
• undercharging
• billing
• marking down
• invoicing

Examples of commanding in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

James Earl Jones, a commanding presence onscreen who nonetheless gained greater fame off-camera as the sonorous voice of Star Wars villain Darth Vader and Mufasa, the benevolent leader in The Lion King, died Monday. —Jacqueline Mansky, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Sep. 2024

Navarro — a frequent guitar guest with artists including Nine Inch Nails, Guns N’ Roses and Janet Jackson — has a palpable charisma and is a commanding, nimble player. —Katherine Turman, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2024

But the Netherlands dashed those hopes quickly with a commanding 21-6 win today. —NBC News, 5 Aug. 2024

Zhang got out to a commanding 2-0 lead but couldn’t close in the third game, missing a pair of back-hand attempts to give Takahashi her first game. —Jason Mastrodonato, The Mercury News, 29 July 2024

Phrases Containing commanding

• commanding officer