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
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2
as in captain
a person in overall command of a ship
the intrepid commander of the HMS Surprise
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of commander
Melvin Morris, an African American soldier, retrieved under fire at Chi Lang, Vietnam, the body of another team commander on Sept. 17, 1969.
—
Richard J. Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 May 2025
Schuster, a 17-year veteran, has been the department’s commander since 2020.
—Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2025
Yair Golan, a former Israeli deputy commander and chairman of the Democrats party in the Knesset, offered on Monday perhaps the strongest political rebuke of Netanyahu’s government yet, accusing the prime minister of leading the nation down a path of immorality and destruction.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 22 May 2025
Lawrence sacrifices himself, as well as Nick and Wharton, by sneaking a bomb onto the commanders' D.C.-bound plane.
—EW.com, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for commander
Richard J. Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 May 2025
Schuster, a 17-year veteran, has been the department’s commander since 2020.
—Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2025
Yair Golan, a former Israeli deputy commander and chairman of the Democrats party in the Knesset, offered on Monday perhaps the strongest political rebuke of Netanyahu’s government yet, accusing the prime minister of leading the nation down a path of immorality and destruction.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 22 May 2025
Lawrence sacrifices himself, as well as Nick and Wharton, by sneaking a bomb onto the commanders' D.C.-bound plane.
—EW.com, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for commander
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commander
Noun
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The photo album belonged to Karl Höcker, a former bank clerk who came to Auschwitz to be commandant Richard Baer’s right-hand man.—
Karen D'Souza,
Mercury News,
18 Apr. 2025
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Soon afterward, some online noted that the band’s X account had been deactivated and assumed — incorrectly — it was tied to Casey’s criticism of President Trump and his co-president, X commandant Elon Musk.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
18 Mar. 2025
Noun
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For the 2025 sequel, Nanette — now captain of the Callister — gets into several physical fights, giving Milioti her first real taste of stunt work.—
Adam B. Vary,
Variety,
9 June 2025
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Tell us about the coach… Kompany, the former Manchester City captain and one of the finest central defenders of his era, was a surprise choice when he was appointed in 2024.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
7 June 2025
Noun
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With the Yankees facing talented left-hander Garrett Crochet, the skipper figured Saturday made the most sense for a breather.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
7 June 2025
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During pregame workouts, Eisenhower spoke with Giants manager Mel Ott and Braves skipper Bob Coleman.—
Bill Swank,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Commander.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commander. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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