Synonyms of captains

captains 1 of 2

noun

plural of captain

1

as in commanders

a person in overall command of a ship

the captain is responsible for everything that happens to his ship in the course of a voyage

Synonyms & Similar Words

• commanders
• skippers
• pilots
• admirals
• officers
• skips
• masters
• sea captains
• commodores
• commanding officers
• vice admirals
• mates

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• crews
• crewmen
• crewmates

2

as in commandants

one in official command especially of a military force or base

the captain of the largest army ever marshaled for battle in this country

Synonyms & Similar Words

• commanders
• commandants
• commanding officers
• commanders in chief
• commissioned officers
• field officers

3

as in leaders

the person (as an employer or supervisor) who tells people and especially workers what to do

we only do what the captain tells us to, so it's not our fault when things don't work out

Synonyms & Similar Words

• leaders
• bosses
• foremen
• chiefs
• masters
• managers
• commanders
• directors
• lords
• heads
• helmsmen
• administrators
• supervisors
• overseers
• superintendents
• headmen
• executives
• presidents
• taskmasters
• kingpins
• honchos
• governors
• generals
• jefes
• skippers
• principals
• rulers
• stewards
• kings
• boss men
• mistresses
• princes
• employers
• magnates
• superiors
• barons
• overlords
• figureheads
• sovereigns
• potentates
• leadmen
• standard-bearers
• bigwigs
• dominators
• czars
• hierarchs
• moguls
• straw bosses
• directresses
• higher-ups
• big guns
• top dogs
• gaffers
• coleaders
• gangers
• subchiefs
• top guns
• micromanagers
• big cheeses
• coheads
• subdirectors

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• subordinates
• subjects
• juniors
• dependents
• secondaries
• underlings
• inferiors

4

as in tycoons

a person of rank, power, or influence in a particular field

a fascinating magazine article profiling the captains of the American auto industry

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tycoons
• magnates
• kings
• princes
• barons
• czars
• lords
• lions
• moguls
• monarchs
• stars
• Napoleons
• figures
• bigwigs
• notables
• VIPs
• heavyweights
• nabobs
• kahunas
• superstars
• big guns
• personages
• big shots
• big boys
• movers and shakers
• honchos
• celebrities
• biggies
• personalities
• big wheels
• nawabs
• heavies
• gods
• deities
• fat cats
• main men
• supremos
• pooh-bahs
• demigods
• big cheeses
• bigfeet

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• subordinates
• lightweights
• underlings
• half-pints
• inferiors
• small-timers
• nobodies
• zeros

captains

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of captain

1

as in supervises

to be in charge of

if you do well on this, you'll be asked to captain the next mission

Synonyms & Similar Words

• supervises
• oversees
• handles
• bosses
• commands
• heads
• manages
• steers
• guides
• quarterbacks
• orders
• watches over
• superintends
• controls
• directs
• runs
• monitors
• overlooks
• calls the tune (for)
• rides herd on
• shows
• shepherds
• calls the shots (of)
• administers
• rules
• presides (over)
• reigns
• governs

2

as in rules

to exercise authority or power over

captained the project for a few days while the boss was out of town

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rules
• governs
• bosses
• controls
• commands
• dictates
• dominates
• domineers
• presides (over)
• masters
• manages
• oversees
• leads
• sways
• administers
• heads
• supervises
• regulates
• conducts
• reigns (over)
• directs
• superintends
• lords (it over)
• micromanages
• conquers
• oppresses
• tyrannizes
• subjugates
• subdues

3

as in commands

to serve as leader of

you did a good job of captaining the team

Synonyms & Similar Words

• commands
• leads
• bosses
• heads
• oversees
• spearheads
• controls
• dominates
• supervises
• manages
• directs
• handles
• governs
• regulates
• superintends
• runs

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• yields (to)
• submits (to)
• follows
• serves
• obeys
• complies (with)
• bows (to)
• defers (to)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of captains

Noun

That’s by order of the President, who summoned the captains of the AI industry to the nation’s capital Tuesday to discuss AI safety and AI regulation…or, self-regulation. — Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2026

Admunsen High School student Alison Segarra and Dundee-Crown High School student Alejandro Gonzalez will serve as the Bears' 2026 Latino Heritage Month Youth Leaders, and will serve as honorary team captains at midfield during the pregame coin toss. — Noel Brennan, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026

The two were the honorary captains for home opener, a good reminder that this organization has a long history of drafting and developing talent. — Miami Herald, 27 Sep. 2026

Cameras pick back up 10 weeks later as the show’s captains gather a memorial for fallen fisherman and Rick says a moving prayer. — Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2026

There was no script, only two captains — two veteran leaders — feeding off each other with the rest of their teammates watching. — Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Raphinha was chosen as one of the club’s first team captains in the 2024–25 season. — Tushaar Kuthiala, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Sep. 2026

The captains, remembering what Moore had told them, grabbed a piece of grass and delivered it to him Monday after the game in a Coca-Cola paper cup. — Elliott Harrell, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2026

Roberts already has earned the respect of players such as senior defender Hutch Stuckert, one of the team’s captains. — Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026

Verb

Here, the lobster roll is surprisingly personal, with lobster sourced from chef Sewall’s cousin Mark, who captains a boat in York Harbor, Maine. — Todd Plummer, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Sep. 2026

Star center back and veteran captain Virgil van Dijk also captains Liverpool, one of the biggest clubs in the world in England. — Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 11 June 2026

Hakimi, who captains Morocco and stars for Paris Saint-Germain, is regarded as one of the best right backs in the world. — Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 2 June 2026

Camberos, who captains the Mexican side and plays for the national team, played for Angel City and Bay FC in between a first stint with América and her current tenure, while Geyse last played for Gotham. — Tamerra Griffin, New York Times, 22 May 2026

Rozanov captains the re-named Boston Raiders in the TV adaptation. — Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 12 May 2026

Rush lost two of his top players to The Bennett School when Reeder and fellow senior Harper Gates, both now captains for the Rebels’ premiere team, decided to pursue the new opportunity. — Jon Poorman, Houston Chronicle, 4 Apr. 2026

Tigertail, 36, who captains airboat tours through the Everglades, is navigating his boat through the only route available given how dry the park has gotten this year. — Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026

Outfielder Jung Hoo Lee captains the South Korean team that finished as runner-up to Team Japan in Pool C from Tokyo. — Shayna Rubin, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 Mar. 2026