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
Tribune Content Agency, Baltimore Sun, 8 Apr. 2026
Sometimes, even a team’s drafting philosophy — if the draft board dictates it.
—Vic Tafur, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
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, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dictate
Verb
Today’s Baroque version is popular for weddings, even if tradition dictates that the groom carries the bride up the 99 steps leading from the boat dock to the church door.
—Tribune Content Agency, Baltimore Sun, 8 Apr. 2026
Sometimes, even a team’s drafting philosophy — if the draft board dictates it.
—Vic Tafur, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dictate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dictate
Verb
-
There's text messages about ordering ethylene glycol.—
Peter Van Sant,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, supreme commander of the Luftwaffe, Hitler’s second in command, and the highest-ranking surviving Nazi leader, steps out of the car, stands at attention to announce his surrender, and orders the soldiers to carry his bags.—
Alice Kaplan,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The MorphoScan scale comes with an instruction manual and a USB-A-to-USB-C charging cable, but no wall brick.—
Andrew Gebhart,
PC Magazine,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Gardeners should carefully read and follow label instructions and avoid applying treatments when pollinators are most active.—
Anthony Reardon,
Kansas City Star,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Defense attorneys requested the change of venue to Tarrant County, arguing that Horner could not get a fair trial in Wise County.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Officers began life-saving measures and requested an ambulance to respond to the scene.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Aries March 21 – April 19 Your work — professional or personal — may ask a little more of you today.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Namira’s mother often asks her children to copy-edit her e-mails.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But that edict died with him, Vaez said.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Like most of her peers, Agnes follows her country’s various repressive edicts directed toward young women.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As a condition of his release, he will be required to prove any money used to post bond comes from a legitimate source.—
Abby Dodge,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
The saltwater pools were preserved and the property has brought them back to their natural state, which requires delicately balancing the flora and fauna and salinity levels.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Each season brings brings with it a seemingly impossible comeback that ends up defining the direction of fashion.—
Alex Sales,
Glamour,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Skafafell National Park is a 24-minute drive in the other direction from the hotel.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
That was Jeff Peterson’s directive.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Trump has ordered that all DHS employees be paid, expanding on an earlier directive.—
Alexandra Skores,
CNN Money,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dictate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictate. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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