The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word ADMIRAL
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
A
D
M
I
R
A
L
More clues leading to the result ADMIRAL
- Endlessly respect a Liberal naval commander
- Mostly respect a large ship’s commander
- Naval officer, mostly commendable, book omitted
- Endless respect little man gives senior officer
- Butterfly is someone looked up to by Lieutenant Pinkerton?
- Endlessly praise a learner, a cadet who really made it?
- Mostly respect a large naval commander
- Superior salt with value to be cut by a pound
- Almost revere a large senior officer
- One engaged in drama at sea leading at the front?
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "naval commander" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case naval commander = admiral.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does ADMIRAL mean?
ADMIRAL noun- A naval officer of the highest rank; the commander of a country's naval forces.
- A naval officer of high rank, immediately below Admiral of the Fleet; the commander of a fleet or squadron.
- A flag officer in the United States Navy or Coast Guard of a grade superior to vice admiral and junior to admiral of the fleet (when that grade is used). An admiral is equal in grade or rank to a four-star general.
- The ship which carries the admiral, the flagship; also, the most considerable ship of a fleet.
- A prince or Saracen leader under the Sultan.
- Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the genera Kaniska and Vanessa, especially a red admiral or white admiral.