dictate 1 of 2

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

dictate

2 of 2

noun

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 dictate
Verb
Company policy dictates that if a director does not secure a majority of votes, they are expected to submit their resignation, and the board will then meet to decide whether to accept it. Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 24 June 2025 Iran’s 'Supreme Leader' likely will dictate its response Much, if not all, of Iran’s response will be dictated not by its civilian government but by Khamenei, the Iranian cleric who has served as the second supreme leader of Iran since 1989. Josh Meyer, USA Today, 23 June 2025
Noun
OnlyFans models are independent creators who, for the most part, run their businesses according to their own dictates. Jessie Sage, Rolling Stone, 14 Dec. 2024 Too many leaders seek to lead down by being authoritative, by pushing dictates on people and relentlessly driving forward toward arbitrary goals and deadlines. Andrew Deutscher, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dictate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dictate
Verb
  • Saturday’s strikes raised immediate questions about the extent of the U.S. involvement in the Middle East and about Trump’s authority to order the bombings without congressional approval.
    Brett Samuels, The Hill, 22 June 2025
  • Create new map Open map Shared with you Help Feedback Report inappropriate content Google Drive Restaurants and other food vendors ordered to close and allowed to reopen by Orange County health inspectors from June 12 to June 19.
    Ian Wheeler, Oc Register, 21 June 2025
Noun
  • What the data show The crime rate in CMS increased after the COVID-19 pandemic when students returned to in-person instruction.
    Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 18 June 2025
  • Earlier instructions to stop antibiotics were premature, and a longer course was necessary.
    Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 June 2025
Verb
  • Ohtani was not made available to reporters who requested him.
    Dennis Lin, New York Times, 18 June 2025
  • As a people leader, request that your staff turn their cell phones off in meetings.
    Martina Kuhlmeyer, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
Verb
  • Our characters all ask if maybe they all got lost on the way.
    Tricia Despres, People.com, 21 June 2025
  • The discussions are at an early stage and may not lead to an offer, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the matter is private.
    Sara Braun, Fortune, 21 June 2025
Noun
  • President Trump’s new travel ban has sparked widespread outrage and fear in New York’s sprawling Haitian community, by far the biggest local diaspora group affected by the edict aimed at 12 nations.
    Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 8 June 2025
  • In the meantime, however, these discriminatory government edicts will continue to violate Coloradans’ rights of free speech and free exercise of religion, and adversely impact the privacy, safety, professional conduct, and even health of those who disagree with the government’s ideology.
    Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 7 June 2025
Verb
  • Merging those datasets into a unified Salesforce environment requires careful data mapping to ensure that fields align effectively and relationships between unique data objects are preserved.
    Vamsi Gosu, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
  • The underground site at Fordow required the use of sophisticated bunker-buster bombs.
    Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 23 June 2025
Noun
  • This after Windows 11 dipped and Windows 10 recovered in May, widening the gap between new and old in the wrong direction.
    Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
  • Cook pasta according to package directions for al dente.
    Elizabeth Nelson, Southern Living, 19 June 2025
Noun
  • Amelie overrides her prime directive and begins enacting her main agenda, which is to get uploaded into cyberspace and take over all online networks in the name of world domination, yadda yadda yadda.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 25 June 2025
  • Sharing your directives, powers of attorney, and care preferences gives your children the confidence to act quickly.
    Raul Elizalde, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dictate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictate. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on dictate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!