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
Relevance
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
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 commander
The previous round of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, in 2023–24, devastated the militia, destroyed much of its missile and drone arsenal, and killed most of its senior battlefield commanders and political leaders.
—
Hussein Ibish, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026
Iranian Parliament Speaker Bagher Ghalibaf initially signaled a willingness to attend talks, but was overshadowed by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Maj.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
Major General Ahmad Vahidi replaced Mohammad Pakpour as commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Commander.
—Mike Brest, The Washington Examiner, 22 Apr. 2026
In a news release, the state attorney general's office identified the two Mexican casualties as first commander of the state investigation agency Pedro Román Oseguera Cervantes and officer Manuel Genaro Méndez Montes.
—CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for commander
Hussein Ibish, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026
Iranian Parliament Speaker Bagher Ghalibaf initially signaled a willingness to attend talks, but was overshadowed by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Maj.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
Major General Ahmad Vahidi replaced Mohammad Pakpour as commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Commander.
—Mike Brest, The Washington Examiner, 22 Apr. 2026
In a news release, the state attorney general's office identified the two Mexican casualties as first commander of the state investigation agency Pedro Román Oseguera Cervantes and officer Manuel Genaro Méndez Montes.
—CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for commander
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commander
Noun
-
Previously, warfare was about expensive platforms and precision strikes, driving a downsizing in military forces as countries increasingly relied on cutting-edge technology, said Blythe Crawford, former commandant of the RAF’s Air and Space Warfare Centre.—
Elsa Ohlen,
CNBC,
10 Apr. 2026
-
About 90 minutes after the lockdown took effect, the Naval Academy’s deputy commandant emailed students, telling them that as law enforcement worked to secure the school, a midshipman mistook police for a threat and engaged them, according to the official.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Players were forced into hiding, their equipment and medals buried or abandoned, before a coordinated evacuation — led in part by former team captain and activist Khalida Popal — brought dozens of players out of the country.—
Max Feliu,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Flay first revealed that girlfriend Williamson was becoming a team captain while chatting with PEOPLE at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival (SOBEWFF) in February.—
Erin Clements,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
As the new Sox skipper began walking out to the mound, his starter emphatically shook his head from side to side.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Anthony Contreras, the skipper for the team’s Triple-A affiliate, is now the big league third base coach.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Commander.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commander. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
