1
as in presiding
highest in rank or authority
with the death of the general, he instantly became the commanding officer on the field of battle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in prominent
likely to attract attention
even in a room filled with world leaders, he was a commanding presence
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in directing
Related Words
1
as in instructing
to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority
the general commanded his troops with Caesar-like imperiousness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ordering
to request the doing of by virtue of one's authority
the governor has commanded that all state flags be flown at half-mast
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in demanding
to ask for (something) earnestly or with authority
an act of courage that commands the admiration of all who witnessed it
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in governing
to exercise authority or power over
a cabinet secretary who commands the largest department in the federal government
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5
as in having
to keep, control, or experience as one's own
local government does not command the resources that are needed to respond to such a huge disaster
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in dominating
to look down on
for centuries an imposing castle has commanded that stretch of the river
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7
as in leading
to serve as leader of
the head of the agency commands an army of workers trained to respond to the immediate needs of disaster victims
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in asking
to set or receive as a price
commands a high fee for his decorating services
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of commanding
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 16 Apr. 2026
In the case of Project Nightingale, that number is constrained by the fact that only 100 examples of the commanding convertible will be built.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 14 Apr. 2026
Austin Sanders, Austin American Statesman, 3 Mar. 2026
Go back long enough and pink was considered entirely appropriate for creating a commanding, masculine look.
—Adam Mansuroglu, Robb Report, 28 Feb. 2026
Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 23 Apr. 2026
The defending champion Thunder now hold a commanding 2-0 series lead as the best-of-seven matchup moves to Phoenix for Game 3, scheduled for April 25.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for commanding
Adjective
Starlink has 10,000 satellites, a commanding lead over Amazon’s 200-strong Leo constellation; Globalstar has a further 25, but the real prize is control over part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 16 Apr. 2026
In the case of Project Nightingale, that number is constrained by the fact that only 100 examples of the commanding convertible will be built.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 14 Apr. 2026
Noun
Shea’s commanding lead was not at all unexpected.
—Austin Sanders, Austin American Statesman, 3 Mar. 2026
Go back long enough and pink was considered entirely appropriate for creating a commanding, masculine look.
—Adam Mansuroglu, Robb Report, 28 Feb. 2026
Verb
The Boise couple prosecutors charged with publishing a manifesto commanding others to hunt and kill a list of local residents was found guilty by a jury Thursday.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 23 Apr. 2026
The defending champion Thunder now hold a commanding 2-0 series lead as the best-of-seven matchup moves to Phoenix for Game 3, scheduled for April 25.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for commanding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commanding
Adjective
-
Most importantly, playing prominent roles alongside a respected veteran and thoughtful mentor in Zibanejad really seemed to propel the young wingers, who finished the season by combining for 43 points (24 for Lafrenière and 19 for Perreault) in the final 23 games.—
Vincent Z. Mercogliano,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Collagen loss accelerates, cell turnover slows, and deep wrinkles become more prominent.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Kansas City Star,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The series will additionally vie for directing and comedy, with the official selections still to be determined.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The adaptation of Thomas Harris' novel was first set up with Gene Hackman directing and potentially starring.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Humans have long been able to teach robots how to do individual tasks, but instructing them on these more sophisticated jobs has been an elusive goal, despite billions of dollars invested into robotics.—
Katia Riddle,
NPR,
24 Apr. 2026
-
On March 4, police say classroom-security footage showed Rodriguez instructing the boy and two other students to sit and face her.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Chaotic video obtained by FOX 35 shows local authorities ordering the teens to leave the area as police cars lined the roads.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Don’t leave without ordering the bread pudding for dessert, which is prepared in a deep fryer and is the perfect consistency.—
Anna Katherine Clemmons,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Yet, these authors and their peers such as Naomi Schaefer Riley continually shrink this extraordinarily complex problem to outcomes only — framing broken families in deeply dark narratives of horror, highlighting failures and demanding accountability.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
In a letter sent Wednesday to TotalEnergies and provided to The Associated Press, Huffman and Raskin are letting the company know that Democrats have begun an investigation, are demanding documents and communications and are advising the CEO not to take the money.—
Jennifer McDermott,
Fortune,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Commission is comprised of 13 commissioners who are appointed for terms of up to 5 years by the governor general on the advice of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada, whose authority is exercised by the federal Cabinet of the governing party in the Canadian Parliament.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Adams, who finished fourth in the crowded Democratic primary for mayor in 2025, added that women, in her experience, take a noticeably different approach to governing than men.—
Marcia Kramer,
CBS News,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Though signs of its impending closure were all around this past weekend, the New Black Wall Street Market was having one last hurrah.—
Zachary Hansen,
AJC.com,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Prosecutors say Maduro and Rodriguez authorized a series of payments totaling $20 million under terms of the PDV USA contract before having a falling out with Rivera’s group by the end of 2017.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
If consumers are in the market for an affordable electric car, similar to the vehicles dominating Chinese vehicle sales, the Bolt may check all the boxes.—
Charles Singh,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
That ambiguity has encouraged some investors and companies to believe that the era of geopolitics dominating cross-border economic activity may be receding.—
Dewardric L. McNeal,
CNBC,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Commanding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commanding. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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