1
as in commandant
one in official command especially of a military force or base
a surrender of the fort by the commander without a single shot having been fired
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in captain
a person in overall command of a ship
the intrepid commander of the HMS Surprise
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of commander
Trump has empowered the billionaire to slash and burn the administrative state, turning him into the commander and the enforcer of his administration’s efforts to shake the federal bureaucracy to its core.
—
Jess Bidgood, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2025
These letters contain the final orders on what the submarine commanders should do if the U.K. has been devastated by a nuclear attack and the government is no longer functioning.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025
Michael Reynolds-Pool/Getty Images Esper is one of the former officials from President Trump's first administration who has received threats from Iran over the 2020 U.S. killing of Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani, the commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Quds Force.
—Eleanor Watson, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2025
The attack took at least 3,000 senior Hezbollah fighters and commanders out of commission.
—Hanin Ghaddar, Foreign Affairs, 4 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for commander
Jess Bidgood, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2025
These letters contain the final orders on what the submarine commanders should do if the U.K. has been devastated by a nuclear attack and the government is no longer functioning.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025
Michael Reynolds-Pool/Getty Images Esper is one of the former officials from President Trump's first administration who has received threats from Iran over the 2020 U.S. killing of Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani, the commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Quds Force.
—Eleanor Watson, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2025
The attack took at least 3,000 senior Hezbollah fighters and commanders out of commission.
—Hanin Ghaddar, Foreign Affairs, 4 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for commander
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commander
Noun
-
Fired the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the head of the Transportation Security Administration and the commandant of the Coast Guard.—
Francesca Paris,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2025
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General Eric Smith, the commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, has said that the Marine Littoral Regiment, which can provide a flexible and rapid response, is designed as a counter to China's aggression and to protect Washington's treaty allies: Japan, South Korea and the Philippines.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
28 Nov. 2024
Noun
-
The Ottawa Senators captain scored in the first period.—
Fluto Shinzawa,
The Athletic,
21 Feb. 2025
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Her longtime performing partner, Asher Treleaven, who was also her ex-husband, played the captain.—
Julie Lasky,
New York Times,
21 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Snowden has been the skipper of the Truman since December 2023.—
Eleanor Watson,
CBS News,
20 Feb. 2025
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The skipper thinks Domínguez will be an impactful switch-hitter for years to come, but there’s room for growth.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
17 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Commander.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commander. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
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