Commanded — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb adjective /kə-ˈmand/ com·mand

Meaning & Definition of Commanded

Commanded (verb)

  1. to direct authoritatively, order
  2. to exercise a dominating influence over, have command of
  3. to have at one's immediate disposal

Commanded (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in required, ordered

    similar: mandatory, ordered, required, encouraged, promoted, supported, proper, seemly, suitable, tolerated, unobjectionable, brooked, condoned, countenanced, accorded, granted, sanctioned, vouchsafed, accepted, accredited, allowed, appropriate, approved, authorized, certified, endorsed, lawful, legal, legitimate, licensed, OK, permitted, warranted, acceptable, bearable, endurable, tolerable, allowable, permissible, permissive, sufferable
    opposite: banned, barred, forbidden, impermissible, interdicted, outlawed, prohibited, proscribed, taboo, verboten, intolerable, unacceptable, unbearable, unendurable, illegal, illegitimate, illicit, improper, inappropriate, unauthorized, unlawful, unlicensed

Commanded (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority

    "the general commanded his troops with Caesar-like imperiousness"

    similar: adjured, bade, bossed (around), charged, directed, enjoined, instructed, ordered, told
    related: asked, petitioned, requested, begged, beseeched, entreated, advised, counseled, warned, appointed, assigned, authorized, commissioned, oversaw, superintended, supervised, conducted, controlled, led, managed, coerced, compelled, constrained, forced, obliged, required
    opposite: minded, obeyed
    near: complied (with), followed, kept, observed

  2. to request the doing of by virtue of one's authority

    "the governor has commanded that all state flags be flown at half-mast"

    similar: called, decreed, dictated, directed, mandated, ordained, ordered, called for
    related: asked, petitioned, requested, demanded, required
    near: canceled, countermanded, rescinded

  3. to ask for (something) earnestly or with authority

    "an act of courage that commands the admiration of all who witnessed it"

    similar: called (for), claimed, clamored (for), demanded, enjoined, exacted, insisted (on), pressed (for), quested, stipulated (for)
    related: asked, pleaded (for), requested, wanted, cried (for), necessitated, needed, required, took, warranted, requisitioned, imposed, badgered, dunned, harassed, hounded
    near: gave up, relinquished, surrendered, yielded

  4. to exercise authority or power over

    "a cabinet secretary who commands the largest department in the federal government"

    similar: bossed, captained, controlled, governed, presided (over), ruled, swayed (archaic)
    related: conducted, directed, headed, led, administered, managed, micromanaged, oversaw, regulated, superintended, supervised, dictated, dominated, domineered, lorded (it over), mastered, oppressed, reigned (over), tyrannized, conquered, subdued, subjugated

  5. 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"

    similar: enjoyed, had, held, owned, possessed, retained, rejoiced in
    related: kept, reserved, withheld, bore, carried, boasted, showed off, sported
    opposite: lacked, wanted
    near: abandoned, ceded, disclaimed, disowned, handed over, relinquished, renounced, surrendered, yielded, discarded, dumped, declined, rejected, repudiated, spurned, needed, required

  6. to look down on

    "for centuries an imposing castle has commanded that stretch of the river"

    similar: dominated, overlooked
    related: faced, fronted

  7. 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"

    similar: bossed, captained, headed, led, spearheaded
    related: controlled, dominated, directed, governed, handled, managed, oversaw, ran, regulated, superintended, supervised
    near: bowed (to), complied (with), deferred (to), followed, obeyed, served, submitted (to), yielded (to)

  8. to set or receive as a price

    "commands a high fee for his decorating services"

    similar: asked, charged, demanded
    related: overcharged, undercharged, brought, fetched, sold (for), discounted, marked down, marked up, assessed, billed, invoiced, priced, valued

Related Entry: Command (verb)

Command is a different word from Commanded. The synonyms below are for command, not for commanded.

  1. to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority

    "the general commanded his troops with Caesar-like imperiousness"

    similar: adjure, bid, boss (around), charge, direct, enjoin, instruct, order, tell
    related: ask, petition, request, beg, beseech, entreat, advise, counsel, warn, appoint, assign, authorize, commission, oversee, superintend, supervise, conduct, control, lead, manage, coerce, compel, constrain, force, oblige, require
    opposite: mind, obey
    near: comply (with), follow, keep, observe

  2. to request the doing of by virtue of one's authority

    "the governor has commanded that all state flags be flown at half-mast"

    similar: call, decree, dictate, direct, mandate, ordain, order, call for
    related: ask, petition, request, demand, require
    near: cancel, countermand, rescind

  3. to ask for (something) earnestly or with authority

    "an act of courage that commands the admiration of all who witnessed it"

    similar: call (for), claim, clamor (for), demand, enjoin, exact, insist (on), press (for), quest, stipulate (for)
    related: ask, plead (for), request, want, cry (for), necessitate, need, require, take, warrant, requisition, impose, badger, dun, harass, hound
    near: give up, relinquish, surrender, yield

  4. to exercise authority or power over

    "a cabinet secretary who commands the largest department in the federal government"

    similar: boss, captain, control, govern, preside (over), rule, sway (archaic)
    related: conduct, direct, head, lead, administer, manage, micromanage, oversee, regulate, superintend, supervise, dictate, dominate, domineer, lord (it over), master, oppress, reign (over), tyrannize, conquer, subdue, subjugate

  5. 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"

    similar: enjoy, have, hold, own, possess, retain, rejoice in
    related: keep, reserve, withhold, bear, carry, boast, show off, sport
    opposite: lack, want
    near: abandon, cede, disclaim, disown, hand over, relinquish, renounce, surrender, yield, discard, dump, decline, reject, repudiate, spurn, need, require

  6. to look down on

    "for centuries an imposing castle has commanded that stretch of the river"

    similar: dominate, overlook
    related: face, front

  7. 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"

    similar: boss, captain, head, lead, spearhead
    related: control, dominate, direct, govern, handle, manage, oversee, regulate, run, superintend, supervise
    near: bow (to), comply (with), defer (to), follow, obey, serve, submit (to), yield (to)

  8. to set or receive as a price

    "commands a high fee for his decorating services"

    similar: ask, charge, demand
    related: overcharge, undercharge, bring, fetch, sell (for), discount, mark down, mark up, assess, bill, invoice, price, value

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Commanded

The most common words with a similar meaning to Commanded:

Archaic: swayed
mandatory, ordered, required, encouraged, promoted, supported, proper, seemly, suitable, tolerated, unobjectionable, brooked, condoned, countenanced, accorded, granted, sanctioned, vouchsafed, accepted, accredited, allowed, appropriate, approved, authorized, certified, endorsed, lawful, legal, legitimate, licensed, OK, permitted, warranted, acceptable, bearable, endurable, tolerable, allowable, permissible, permissive

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Commanded

Words with the opposite meaning of Commanded:

banned, barred, forbidden, impermissible, interdicted, outlawed, prohibited, proscribed, taboo, verboten, intolerable, unacceptable, unbearable, unendurable, illegal, illegitimate, illicit, improper, inappropriate, unauthorized, unlawful, unlicensed, minded, obeyed, lacked, wanted

Related Words for Commanded

petitioned, requested, begged, beseeched, entreated, advised, counseled, warned, appointed, assigned, commissioned, oversaw, superintended, supervised, conducted, managed, coerced, compelled, constrained, forced, obliged, pleaded (for), wanted, cried (for), necessitated, needed, took, requisitioned, imposed, badgered

Near Antonyms of Commanded

complied (with), followed, kept, observed, canceled, countermanded, rescinded, gave up, relinquished, surrendered, yielded, abandoned, ceded, disclaimed, disowned, handed over, renounced, discarded, dumped, declined, rejected, repudiated, spurned, needed, required, bowed (to), deferred (to), served, submitted (to), yielded (to)

Word Forms of Commanded

Inflections: commanding, commands

Derived words: commandable (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Commanded

Middle English comanden, from Anglo-French cumander, from Vulgar Latin *commandare, alteration of Latin commendare to commit to one's charge commend

First known use: 14th centuryt

Frequently Asked Questions about Commanded

What does "Commanded" mean?

"Commanded" means to direct authoritatively, order. As an a verb and an adjective, it is defined as: to direct authoritatively, order. It has 9 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Commanded"?

Other words for "Commanded" include mandatory, ordered, required, encouraged, promoted, supported, proper and seemly. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Commanded" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Commanded"?

There are 154 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Commanded". Common alternatives include mandatory, ordered, required, encouraged, promoted, supported, proper, seemly, suitable and tolerated.

What is the opposite of "Commanded"?

Antonyms of "Commanded" include banned, barred, forbidden, impermissible, interdicted, outlawed, prohibited and proscribed. Near antonyms include complied (with), followed, kept and observed.

How do you use "Commanded" in a sentence?

Examples of "Commanded" in a sentence: "the general commanded his troops with Caesar-like imperiousness"; "the governor has commanded that all state flags be flown at half-mast"; "an act of courage that commands the admiration of all who witnessed it".

Is "Commanded" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Commanded" can be used as a verb and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Commanded"?

"Commanded" is pronounced /kə-ˈmand/ and divided into syllables as com·mand.

What is the origin of the word "Commanded"?

"Commanded" comes from Middle English comanden, from Anglo-French cumander, from Vulgar Latin *commandare, alteration of Latin commendare to commit to one's charge commend. First known use: 14th centuryt.