commands 1 of 2

noun

plural of command
1
as in instructions
a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned the captain's commands were followed without question

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Relevance

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2
as in proficiencies
a highly developed skill in or knowledge of something a command of French that is the result of a year spent in France as an exchange student

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in headquarters
the place from which a commander runs operations the general set up his command in the old port city

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4
as in seats
a place from which authority is exercised central command

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5
as in controls
the right or means to command or control others the army officer in command during the attack

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6
as in views
all that can be seen from a certain point from his mountain perch, the scout had a command of the entire valley

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commands

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of command
1
as in orders
to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority the general commanded his troops with Caesar-like imperiousness

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in requests
to request the doing of by virtue of one's authority the governor has commanded that all state flags be flown at half-mast

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in demands
to ask for (something) earnestly or with authority an act of courage that commands the admiration of all who witnessed it

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4
as in rules
to exercise authority or power over a cabinet secretary who commands the largest department in the federal government

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5
as in has
to keep, control, or experience as one's own local government does not command the resources that are needed to respond to such a huge disaster

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6
as in dominates
to look down on for centuries an imposing castle has commanded that stretch of the river

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7
as in leads
to serve as leader of the head of the agency commands an army of workers trained to respond to the immediate needs of disaster victims

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8
as in asks
to set or receive as a price commands a high fee for his decorating services

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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 commands
Noun
The suspect ignored the commands, according to police, and instead got back in his car and drove toward Interstate 30. — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Oct. 2026 Brain signals keep shifting Brain-computer interfaces translate patterns of neural activity into commands that can operate computers and other devices. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026 Apple’s announcement came 11 days after Wardle disclosed a Muse configuration that allowed any app or code running on a Mac—including commands injected through the increasingly effective ClickFix attacks—to take full control of the AI assistant. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 2 Oct. 2026 Driscoll told Trump the moves were leaving the service with a smaller pool of experienced officers to fill future senior commands. — Steven Beynon, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026 On the left side, a series of buttons and automatic commands activate the lines to lift the sails, even in rough sea conditions. — Stefano Pozzebon, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2026 During that time, the pandas will have to adjust to their environment and undergo specialized training with their new handlers, learning some English phrases and commands along the way. — Rashad Williams, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026 The pad supports two-finger scrolling and zooming, along with three- and four-finger commands for moving among apps, opening Task View, showing the desktop, and switching virtual desktops. — Sascha Brodsky, PC Magazine, 28 Sep. 2026 State police alleged that Betacourt was uncooperative and refused to comply with commands. — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026
Verb
Around 72% of managers plan to boost pay for recruits with relevant AI skills, and 42% say that knowledge commands a greater surcharge than other technical skills. — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026 Lula is renowned as a smart and effective campaigner and still commands a powerful electoral machinery. — David Unsworth, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026 Constantin Brâncuși’s marble-and-limestone sculpture L’oiseau (1923/1947), for example, commands the space, while Wolfgang Tillmans’s 2022 photograph tree filling window imitates an open window in a closed space. — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 2 Oct. 2026 The studio has yet to release a single film that grossed $100 million domestically, and commands just 6% of the domestic market. — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026 The pop star simply commands the VMA stage like no other—and tonight was clearly no exception. — Christian Allaire, Vogue, 28 Sep. 2026 Predictability reduces uncertainty, and reduced uncertainty commands higher multiples. — Nicholas Pope, Forbes.com, 28 Sep. 2026 The sector also commands a premium to its 10-year average of around 20. — Paulina Likos, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2026 There are references to demons, being burned alive, and the duende king explicitly commands his minions to kill Jo and Raissa. — Parents, 25 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commands
  1. instructions
  2. proficiencies
  3. controls
  4. views
  5. orders
  6. requests
  7. demands
  8. rules
Noun
  • Because eligibility requirements, deadlines, and application procedures vary by state, be sure to follow the instructions provided by local election officials.
    — TIME Staff, Time, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Prosecutor Mark Luckett said the duo were directed by a third person believed to be in Iran who coordinated plans and provided instructions on making a homemade chlorine bomb.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of instructions
Noun
  • Flown today to familiarize new astronauts with working in a high-stress, dynamic environment and maintain pilots’ flight proficiencies, Johnson Space Center currently has a fleet of 14 active T-38 jets stationed out of nearby Ellington Airport.
    — Robert Pearlman, ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2026
  • My history suggests very successful proficiencies in this model.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2026
Definition of proficiencies
Noun
  • Some like Indiana and Delaware have already passed various versions of price controls.
    — Bob Herman, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Tel Aviv — The co-pilot accused of attacking his colleague on board the Flydubai flight to Israel and trying to seize the controls probably acted alone, Israeli sources told CNN.
    — Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of controls
Noun
  • Most of the action happens at Aldea, which is the main all-day Mexican diner for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with panoramic views of the valley below.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • That effort eventually found a powerful ally in Cruz, the chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, whose views on the Sherman Act have been notably selective.
    — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of views
Verb
  • Moments later, MacKinney storms in, kills one of Colum’s guards, and orders his men to round up the castle’s women and sequester them in the chapel.
    — Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The moment when the audience gets up, goes to the restroom, orders drinks, and chats in the hallway.
    — Olivier Bouchara, Vanity Fair, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of orders
Verb
  • An agent requests access and checks those terms against its mandate.
    — Shlomit Wagman, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Pocket rescissions occur when the president requests Congress to cancel funds as the end of the fiscal year approaches, according to the Government Accountability Office.
    — Nicholas Kerr, ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of requests
Verb
  • MacKinney then demands that Colum hand over the keys to the castle — only for Colum to inform him that the estate was actually recently transferred to Ellen.
    — Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Mother demands Rick Jackson stop using slain daughter’s image in mailers.
    — Adam Beam, AJC.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of demands
Verb
  • Spain also proposed new data center rules this summer, requiring data centers to source 80% of their electricity from renewables.
    — April Roach,Jenny Lee, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The mayor is missing, the mafia is involved, a mad scientist rules the basement and all the prostitutes are vampires.
    — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of rules

Browse Nearby Words

command posts
commands
commas
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Cite this Entry

“Commands.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commands. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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