variants
also dictums
as in doctrines
formal
a statement or well-known remark that expresses an important idea, observation, or opinion
A doctor must follow the dictum of "First, do no harm."
Related Words
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dicta
Noun
-
Prevailing economic doctrines proved flawed.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
1 Mar. 2026 -
Thad Kousser, a political science professor at the University of California, San Diego, said the conference rarely produces sweeping policy doctrines but can build relationships that matter when crises cross state lines.—
Sarah Fortinsky,
The Hill,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The assembly may interpret the rules to exclude reformist clerics who favor greater social freedoms and engagement with the outside world.—
Abbas Al Lawati,
CNN Money,
1 Mar. 2026
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Some users have voiced anger at how the situation was handled, claiming that either Kalshi’s rules should have been communicated more clearly, or that its markets should have been more narrowly worded to avoid confusion.—
Terrence O'Brien,
The Verge,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Beloved ’s revenant defies the dictates of realism according to which a character is a bounded individual.—
Judith Shulevitz,
The Atlantic,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Local control ensures that voting reflects the needs of the community, not the dictates of a federal bureaucracy.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
His preference would be to find simpler axioms for quantum mechanics — intuitive principles that would let theorists re-derive the theory in a new form altogether.—
Daniel Garisto,
Quanta Magazine,
7 Nov. 2025
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In other words, as Cleveland tore through the league last season, the players responded to most of the milestones reached with a collective shrug and worn axioms about nothing mattering until the playoffs.—
Joe Vardon,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Tim Roberts, president of the NSW Council for Civil Liberties, said the case highlights the problems with creating retrospective laws – in this case, one to protect children who are being grilled by police.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN Money,
28 Feb. 2026
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The law eliminated two decades-old laws − the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) − that reduced Social Security benefits for a portion of retirees who received pension income.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Maybe anyone planning long journeys should take those maxims as advice anyhow.—
Michael Teo Van Runkle,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The rest of the book is spent expanding on these maxims one by one, in her colloquial, easy style, with references to classic psychological studies, her own research and her own experiences.—
Lamorna Ash,
The Dial,
25 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The caliber of founders building across fintech, logistics, health, and climate is aligned with global standards.—
Maurizio Caio,
semafor.com,
2 Mar. 2026
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Without those standards in place, that can exacerbate asthma and other health consequences.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Ensure your home is securely locked when vacating the premises.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
24 Feb. 2026
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Conditions of the bond included Bird could not enter the victim’s premises or have any contact with the victim.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
24 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Dicta.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dicta. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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