COMMANDERS Synonyms: 19 Similar and Opposite Words

commanders

noun

plural of commander

as in commandants

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

as in captains

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 commanders Rather than immediately exposing maneuver forces to direct contact, Russian commanders typically first attempt to inflict sufficient losses on Ukrainian defenders to make the subsequent assault more manageable. — Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 During the first hour, pine grove owners urged fire commanders to light a backfire a few hundred yards from Le Porge. — Michael Finnegan, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026 The Justice Department⁠ on Wednesday said a federal grand jury indicted two commanders of a powerful Mexican drug cartel, accusing the brothers of trafficking cocaine and methamphetamine into the United States and committing firearms offenses. — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 26 Aug. 2026 Starlink has become deeply embedded in Ukraine’s military operations, with commanders and soldiers relying on satellite connectivity to communicate and coordinate operations. — ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026 The same commanders Hegseth polled earlier endorsed the move, several defense officials told ProPublica. — Megan Rose, ProPublica, 25 Aug. 2026 This can give commanders a clearer picture of the battlespace and potentially reduce the time needed to respond to a threat. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 23 Aug. 2026 Two of Kennon’s commanders questioned the denial, with a captain offering to let Kennon go in his place. — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 22 Aug. 2026 Fire commanders said the threat to homes and businesses has largely passed. — Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for commanders

Noun

Wideout/linebacker Sawyer Haley, wideout/defensive back Levi Carlucci and lineman Jaysson Pittman are the team’s senior captains.

— Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 27 Aug. 2026
Kansas junior quarterback Cole Ballard has been voted one of five team captains for the 2026 college football season, the KU football program announced Wednesday night on social media site X.

— Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of captains

Noun

The American League and National League teams will be managed by John Schneider and Dave Roberts, respectively, the skippers of last year’s World Series clubs.

— Johnny Flores Jr, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Ludwig says many breakfast skippers end up overeating at night.

— Lynn Andriani, Martha Stewart, 13 May 2026