as in to order
to request the doing of by virtue of one's authority
dictated that the terms of surrender be negotiated by his senior staff
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in order
a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned
a starchily worded dictate from on high concerning the company's dress code
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dictate
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 5 Mar. 2026
Advertisement As Supreme Leader, Khamenei virtually dictated all aspects of governance in the Islamic Republic, appointing the heads of the judiciary and controlling Iran’s military and the Revolutionary Guard Corps—the defenders of Iran’s Islamic system.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 5 Mar. 2026
Catherine Taft, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026
Magritte is an artist who comes with a host of associated personal symbols—all those apples, bowler hats, mirrors, and trains—which interact according to the dictates of dream logic.
—Literary Hub, 23 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dictate
Verb
These explain a liquid’s movement when it’s dictated by internal friction.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 5 Mar. 2026
Advertisement As Supreme Leader, Khamenei virtually dictated all aspects of governance in the Islamic Republic, appointing the heads of the judiciary and controlling Iran’s military and the Revolutionary Guard Corps—the defenders of Iran’s Islamic system.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 5 Mar. 2026
Noun
The Institute for Postnatural Studies does not aim to conform to the dictates of traditional academia, as its name might imply.
—Catherine Taft, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026
Magritte is an artist who comes with a host of associated personal symbols—all those apples, bowler hats, mirrors, and trains—which interact according to the dictates of dream logic.
—Literary Hub, 23 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dictate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dictate
Verb
-
Pull up a chair and order a plate of crispy fried chicken, followed by a doorstop of red velvet cake.—
Zoey Goto,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Iran was clearly prepared, especially after the Twelve-Day War, last June, when the President ordered B-2 stealth warplanes to drop bunker-busting bombs on nuclear facilities in Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan.—
Robin Wright,
New Yorker,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Once the pedestrians are out of the way, the car slowly pulls into the intersection before stopping again as the HSI agents approach, shouting instructions for the driver to stop.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Despite these declines, Massachusetts still ranks relatively high compared to other states, but risks falling behind states that have recently improved their literacy instruction, including Mississippi and Florida.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Democrats also requested that both DOJ and Treasury preserve records related to the transaction.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
12 Mar. 2026
-
If an airline cancels a flight or a connection becomes impossible, passengers are typically entitled to rebook or request refunds, depending on the airline’s policies.—
Hana Al-Khodairi,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Minear replies coyly when asked a question that assumes Dixie and Buck went home together.—
Patrick Gomez,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Don’t let anyone stop you from asking questions, but do pay attention to the answers.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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That was despite a Spanish edict forbidding Pueblo people to possess horses.—
Debra Utacia Krol,
AZCentral.com,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Deterrence and leverage Despite concerns that Iran’s nuclear activities shorten its path to a bomb, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has vowed through a religious edict never to pursue a nuclear bomb.—
Abbas Al Lawati,
CNN Money,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Approving or rejecting candidates from Washington requires a functioning political process, a legitimate transitional authority and a population willing to accept an American imprimatur on their leadership — none of which exists.—
Farah N. Jan,
The Conversation,
10 Mar. 2026
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Rodriguez Gutierrez was under a supervisory order and required to periodically check in with an immigration officer or face deportation for failing to report, according to De Bremaeker.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Indonesia’s stocks and currency slid toward new bearish milestones as rising Middle East conflict dragged on regional assets, compounding concerns over the country’s investability and policy direction.—
Prima Wirayani,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
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As a result, heat can move through the material almost three times more efficiently along the direction of the electric field, offering a powerful way to manage thermal energy in advanced technologies.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Galvin’s office on Election Day 2024 had to issue a directive to Boston Police to rush ballots to multiple polling locations so residents could vote, as Galvin said city staff wouldn’t answer the phone in the Elections Department.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
11 Mar. 2026
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Operational restrictions are communicated through Notices to Airmen, or NOTAMs—directives issued by aviation authorities that inform airlines which routes remain open and which must be avoided.—
Hana Al-Khodairi,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dictate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictate. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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