1
as in commanders
a person in overall command of a ship
the captain is responsible for everything that happens to his ship in the course of a voyage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in commandants
one in official command especially of a military force or base
the captain of the largest army ever marshaled for battle in this country
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in leaders
the person (as an employer or supervisor) who tells people and especially workers what to do
we only do what the captain tells us to, so it's not our fault when things don't work out
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in tycoons
a person of rank, power, or influence in a particular field
a fascinating magazine article profiling the captains of the American auto industry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in supervises
to be in charge of
if you do well on this, you'll be asked to captain the next mission
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in rules
to exercise authority or power over
captained the project for a few days while the boss was out of town
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in commands
to serve as leader of
you did a good job of captaining the team
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 captains
Sol Amaya, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
The captains and crews are experienced sailors, and both vessels are equipped with appropriate safety systems and signalling equipment.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
The captains and crews are experienced sailors, and both vessels are equipped with appropriate safety systems and signaling equipment.
—Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
Izzo gives a shoutout to Fort Izzo praised his captains — Kohler, Cooper, Fears and Carr — for staying committed to Michigan State and growing into their roles over the last three seasons.
—Jonah Bronstein, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2026
Seven-time Super Bowl champ Tom Brady and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, who are co-captains of Founders FFC, both showed off Rolexes at the event on Wednesday.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 21 Mar. 2026
Tkachuk and Anders Lee dropped the gloves on the opening faceoff in a fight between captains.
—CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
Nguyen joined senior captains Emmie Nunez (injured) and Jastel David to lead a squad that saw two of its top players, Cora Fry (University of Tennessee) and Peyton Trayer (North Carolina), depart midseason because of early graduations.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 20 Mar. 2026
For the three people left in the world who remain uninitiated, breakout stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie play Shane Hudson and Ilya Rozanov, two rival hockey captains who fall in love over the course of a decade of yearning and clandestine hookups.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 19 Mar. 2026
Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
Outfielder Jung Hoo Lee captains the South Korean team that finished as runner-up to Team Japan in Pool C from Tokyo.
—Shayna Rubin, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 Mar. 2026
Virgil Van Dijk, Netherlands defender Virgil Van Dijk, who captains Liverpool, has widely been regarded as the best defender in the world for the last eight years.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 7 Dec. 2025
Fernandez is also one of the main leaders in the dressing room and regularly captains Chelsea when Reece James is not on the pitch.
—Simon Johnson, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2025
As Olivia Walker in the Netflix thriller, the actress captains the White House's Situation Room with the world on the brink of nuclear war.
—Benjamin Vanhoose, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
And, John Kraus, who captains the Spirit, is ready.
—Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 13 Sep. 2025
Once the final direct qualifiers have been determined, captains Bradley and Luke Donald must select the remaining six members of their teams.
—Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025
Gracely, who usually captains larger vessels—oil tankers, container ships—described a stretch when the boat ran on battery power down the Atchafalaya River.
—Adam Iscoe, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Noun
The missing ships’ captains and crews are experienced sailors, convoy organizers Nuestra America said Friday.
—Sol Amaya, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
The captains and crews are experienced sailors, and both vessels are equipped with appropriate safety systems and signalling equipment.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
The captains and crews are experienced sailors, and both vessels are equipped with appropriate safety systems and signaling equipment.
—Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
Izzo gives a shoutout to Fort Izzo praised his captains — Kohler, Cooper, Fears and Carr — for staying committed to Michigan State and growing into their roles over the last three seasons.
—Jonah Bronstein, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2026
Seven-time Super Bowl champ Tom Brady and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, who are co-captains of Founders FFC, both showed off Rolexes at the event on Wednesday.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 21 Mar. 2026
Tkachuk and Anders Lee dropped the gloves on the opening faceoff in a fight between captains.
—CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
Nguyen joined senior captains Emmie Nunez (injured) and Jastel David to lead a squad that saw two of its top players, Cora Fry (University of Tennessee) and Peyton Trayer (North Carolina), depart midseason because of early graduations.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 20 Mar. 2026
For the three people left in the world who remain uninitiated, breakout stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie play Shane Hudson and Ilya Rozanov, two rival hockey captains who fall in love over the course of a decade of yearning and clandestine hookups.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 19 Mar. 2026
Verb
Tigertail, 36, who captains airboat tours through the Everglades, is navigating his boat through the only route available given how dry the park has gotten this year.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
Outfielder Jung Hoo Lee captains the South Korean team that finished as runner-up to Team Japan in Pool C from Tokyo.
—Shayna Rubin, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 Mar. 2026
Virgil Van Dijk, Netherlands defender Virgil Van Dijk, who captains Liverpool, has widely been regarded as the best defender in the world for the last eight years.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 7 Dec. 2025
Fernandez is also one of the main leaders in the dressing room and regularly captains Chelsea when Reece James is not on the pitch.
—Simon Johnson, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2025
As Olivia Walker in the Netflix thriller, the actress captains the White House's Situation Room with the world on the brink of nuclear war.
—Benjamin Vanhoose, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
And, John Kraus, who captains the Spirit, is ready.
—Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 13 Sep. 2025
Once the final direct qualifiers have been determined, captains Bradley and Luke Donald must select the remaining six members of their teams.
—Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025
Gracely, who usually captains larger vessels—oil tankers, container ships—described a stretch when the boat ran on battery power down the Atchafalaya River.
—Adam Iscoe, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for captains
Noun
-
Tehran will target residences of American and Israeli military commanders and political officials in the Middle East, the spokesman for Tehran's Khatam al-Anbiya military command headquarters said.—
Charlene Gubash,
NBC news,
30 Mar. 2026
-
One source previously told CNN the unit’s presence gives commanders more options for a range of contingencies.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Gables leaders have raised concerns during city meetings about the potential impact.—
Michelle Marchante,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
-
City leaders in Lake Dallas got more than an earful from residents who believe they were failed during a crisis in late March when a house explosion critically injured Jessica Bailey Lopez.—
Marvin Hurst,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Steyer has most pointedly taken aim at tech company tycoons who have put millions into San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan’s campaign for governor.—
ANDREW GRAHAM,
Sacbee.com,
28 Mar. 2026
-
But where does Ted Turner live now that other tycoons have bought up enough acreage to surpass his record?—
Katie Schultz,
Architectural Digest,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
At Fordham University, hundreds of female students gather for Smart Women Securities meets to learn about analyzing equities and financial statements, according to Rosa Romeo, a Fordham accounting professor who supervises the group.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Meanwhile, the Minnesota State Patrol, which supervises security at the Capitol complex, had a more conservative estimate of around 100,000.—
Alex Derosier,
Twin Cities,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
For noncustodial parents, these age rules only matter if Form 8332 is in place.—
Jenni Fink,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Artemis is the daughter of Zeus, who rules over all of the other gods, and Leto, one of the goddesses of childhood.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Like Wawa, in Pennsylvania, and H-E-B, in Texas, Publix—founded in 1930 by a former Piggly Wiggly manager in Winter Haven, Florida—is a regional chain that commands an almost religious devotion.—
Hannah Goldfield,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Trump still commands strong support among his party, especially with MAGA Republicans.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Now, skippers compete in races on different classes of ice boats.—
Noel Brennan,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Keep your eyes open for Martial and Mallow scrub-hairstreaks, lyside sulphurs, malachites, and a variety of skippers fluttering among the blooms.—
Carrie Honaker,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Bernadine was now viewed with such suspicion that Chalker’s bosses suspected a setup.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Even romantic relationships can’t fill the gap Rinne sees forming between employees and their bosses.—
Jacqueline Munis,
Fortune,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Captains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/captains. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
