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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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 Mikkelsen will take the role of mission commander and Philips the role of pilot. Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2025 Tom Schmitt, Indiana commander for the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, served in the U.S. Marine Corps, his inspiration for telling about the Marines’ service during the war. Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 12 Feb. 2025 His 28-year career included serving as commander of the State Patrol Honor Guard since 2014, and teaching Mobile Response Team operations and tactics to law enforcement agencies across the state. Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025 Cooper said a sheriff’s watch commander or another on-duty manager will then review the call again as deputies are dispatched to ensure a crime is involved. Rosalio Ahumada, Sacramento Bee, 7 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for commander
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commander
Noun
  • The shakeup comes in the wake of the abrupt firing of Admiral Linda Fagan, who served as the first female commandant.
    Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 1 Feb. 2025
  • Years later, General Michael Hagee, who was the commandant of the Marine Corps at the time of the shootings, bragged to an oral historian that the press still hadn’t got hold of graphic photos of the killings’ aftermath.
    Parker Yesko, The New Yorker, 18 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Mary, too, served in the Army from 2016 to 2020, also leaving as a captain.
    Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2025
  • There have been rumblings this offseason, from January through the NFL Combine, that some members of the Giants’ brass do not have a high opinion of linebacker and captain Bobby Okereke’s value to the roster entering the 2025 NFL season.
    Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 4 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The Indian skipper eventually succumbed to Connolly who showed great character after his difficult batting effort.
    Tim Ellis, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
  • The skipper isn’t necessarily planning to flip-flop the two outfielders’ positions during games this spring.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 23 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Commander.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commander. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.

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