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 For now, the Trump administration is loosening rules on commanders conducting military raids and airstrikes, expanding the range of people and places that can be targeted. Anna Mulrine Grobe, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Apr. 2025 Iranian military commanders are considering a preemptive strike on a joint U.S.-U.K. base on the Chagos Island located in the Indian Ocean in an apparent attempt to deter President Donald Trump from launching a military attack on Iran, a report by the Telegraph first said. Caitlin McFall, FOXNews.com, 1 Apr. 2025 The crew includes vehicle commander Jannicke Mikkelsen of Norway, pilot Rabea Rogge of Germany, and Australian Eric Phillips, Fram2's medical officer. Tariq Malik, Space.com, 1 Apr. 2025 The blaze prompted the shift commander at the scene to bring additional crews. Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 31 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for commander
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commander
Noun
  • The audit success is also an integral part of the military branch’s readiness to defend, if needed, the USMC commandant noted.
    Washington Examiner Staff, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 6 Feb. 2025
  • Trump already had fired the Coast Guard commandant.
    Susan Page, USA TODAY, 2 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • As someone who was an athlete, a team captain, and a coach and watched sports her whole life, Gaines has incorporated this knowledge into her training to address communications, negotiations, conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, team building, and cooperation, among many other things.
    Molly Peck, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2025
  • These pilots are the only ones allowed to make the 50-mile transit, with the ship’s captain required to cede control for the complex journey through the isthmus passage.
    Silvana Paternostro Nathalia Angarita, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • While Rice’s ability to punish baseballs landed him a somewhat regular spot in the Yanks’ lineup, his versatility offers a nice bonus to the skipper.
    James O'Connell, New York Daily News, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Will Venable appreciated the support following his first win as Sox skipper.
    LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

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

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