as in commander
one in official command especially of a military force or base
reported directly to the fort's commanding officer
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Recent Examples of commanding officer
If a humanoid robot malfunctions and commits a war crime or kills a noncombatant, is the software programmer or commanding officer held responsible?
—
Charlie Campbell, Time, 10 Mar. 2026
The commanding officer was subsequently decorated.
—Letters To The Editor, Oc Register, 10 Mar. 2026
In the past, a soldier or a commanding officer might be court-martialed.
—Justin Salhani, The Dial, 5 Mar. 2026
In the end, however, Monroe is shot point blank in the head by Peter’s new partner, Adam (David Lyons), who turns out to be President Hagan’s former commanding officer in the military and was installed as a Night Agent to carry out orders specifically on behalf of the corrupt POTUS.
—Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for commanding officer
Charlie Campbell, Time, 10 Mar. 2026
The commanding officer was subsequently decorated.
—Letters To The Editor, Oc Register, 10 Mar. 2026
In the past, a soldier or a commanding officer might be court-martialed.
—Justin Salhani, The Dial, 5 Mar. 2026
In the end, however, Monroe is shot point blank in the head by Peter’s new partner, Adam (David Lyons), who turns out to be President Hagan’s former commanding officer in the military and was installed as a Night Agent to carry out orders specifically on behalf of the corrupt POTUS.
—Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for commanding officer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commanding officer
Noun
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Mojtaba Khamenei is probably alive, but Vahidi, who is head of -- the commander of the IRGC is probably calling the shots.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Apr. 2026
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In past years, the association president has been followed by the commander-in-chief, and then a headliner, usually a comedian who roasts everyone in the room.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Commanding officer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commanding%20officer. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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