1
as in commandants
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 captains
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 commanders
In another, the embryo transfer had taken place in a bedroom, where she was surrounded by military commanders.
—
Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Treatment was largely ad hoc and depended to a considerable degree on individual commanders, but customarily prisoners would be exchanged or placed on parole—granted their freedom but required by oath not to return to military action.
—Drew Gilpin Faust, The Atlantic, 8 Feb. 2026
Search and rescue mission coordinators, on-scene commanders and the Coast Guard determined on Saturday all reasonable search efforts for the missing crew members had been exhausted.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 4 Feb. 2026
No specific mission was ever outlined, and placing units on alert is a relatively routine step when commanders anticipate a potential presidential order, according to officials familiar with the planning.
—Steve Beynon, ABC News, 3 Feb. 2026
The goal is to build thousands of these missiles, allowing commanders to overwhelm enemy air defenses through sheer volume rather than just stealth.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 3 Feb. 2026
China’s Disappearing Generals These were the commanders serving under Xi Jinping on the Central Military Commission in 2023.
—New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Iran launched multiple waves of missile and drone attacks at Israeli targets during that conflict, which started after Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran last year, killing several top military commanders and nuclear scientists.
—Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 26 Jan. 2026
Tuesday, during a status hearing in the ongoing consent decree, Snelling said the department’s 22 district commanders will soon face heightened scrutiny for officer misconduct allegations and the subsequent investigations into those claims.
—Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2026
Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Treatment was largely ad hoc and depended to a considerable degree on individual commanders, but customarily prisoners would be exchanged or placed on parole—granted their freedom but required by oath not to return to military action.
—Drew Gilpin Faust, The Atlantic, 8 Feb. 2026
Search and rescue mission coordinators, on-scene commanders and the Coast Guard determined on Saturday all reasonable search efforts for the missing crew members had been exhausted.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 4 Feb. 2026
No specific mission was ever outlined, and placing units on alert is a relatively routine step when commanders anticipate a potential presidential order, according to officials familiar with the planning.
—Steve Beynon, ABC News, 3 Feb. 2026
The goal is to build thousands of these missiles, allowing commanders to overwhelm enemy air defenses through sheer volume rather than just stealth.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 3 Feb. 2026
China’s Disappearing Generals These were the commanders serving under Xi Jinping on the Central Military Commission in 2023.
—New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Iran launched multiple waves of missile and drone attacks at Israeli targets during that conflict, which started after Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran last year, killing several top military commanders and nuclear scientists.
—Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 26 Jan. 2026
Tuesday, during a status hearing in the ongoing consent decree, Snelling said the department’s 22 district commanders will soon face heightened scrutiny for officer misconduct allegations and the subsequent investigations into those claims.
—Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commanders
Noun
-
Silva, who was like a man possessed throughout (more about what teams should expect from captains later), understood the significance.—
Stuart James,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Naming five captains is quite a bit, but Curt Colarullo had intention behind it.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Now, skippers compete in races on different classes of ice boats.—
Noel Brennan,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
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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
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The government of Cuba published the notices to airlines and pilots on Sunday night, warning that jet fuel wouldn't be available at nine airports across the island, including José Martí International Airport in Havana, starting Tuesday and continuing until March 11.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
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Many of the mustaches that have made it to orbit have been championed by astronauts who were Navy fighter pilots.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Commanders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commanders. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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