dictate 1 of 2

verb

ˈdik-ˌtāt How to pronounce dictate (audio)
Definition of dictatenext
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

dictate

2 of 2

noun

ˈdik-ˌtāt How to pronounce dictate (audio)
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Maintaining voter lists is the responsibility of states, not the federal government, as the Constitution dictates that states control elections. — Jude Joffe-Block, NPR, 3 Sep. 2026 But flying private means customers dictate the schedule and destination. — Elliott Harrell, Travel + Leisure, 3 Sep. 2026
Noun
Tradition dictates, in its birthplace of the Piedmont region of Italy, that tonnato is served with thin pieces of veal. — Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 29 June 2026 The downturn bolsters the longstanding theory that the Bitcoin market follows the dictates of US election cycles. — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 3 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for dictate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dictate
  1. order
  2. instruction
  3. request
  4. edict
  5. ask
  6. direction
  7. require
  8. directive
Verb
  • Earlier this year, Johnson ordered Chicago police to collect evidence for possible felony charges against agents.
    — Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Dialogue comes from recordings with native speakers, and lessons focus on real-world scenarios like ordering food or navigating an airport instead of vocabulary drills.
    — StackCommerce Team, PC Magazine, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of order
Noun
  • Ask for the source, confirm the reservation, or reread the instructions yourself.
    — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 12 Sep. 2026
  • Yet his Parma team-mates ranked lowly too, suggesting this was a tactical instruction.
    — Aston Villa, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of instruction
Verb
  • But hey, this is a girl who requested that her college graduation gift be a trip to see the HOF in Canton.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Under such a contract, customers (like the Navy) will request Seasat to supply the boats, launch them, maintain them, operate the autonomous system, and presumably provide the sensor/data service.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of request
Noun
  • Many believe Beijing perceived Tung as a loyalist who would obey the Communist leadership’s edicts.
    — Kanis Leung, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Countless speakers left the Pale of Settlement – the territory in Eastern Europe where Jews had been granted permission to live under an edict of the Russian czars.
    — Ilan Stavans, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of edict
Verb
  • Explain what matters to you, then ask the other person to do the same.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Boone did not rule out that possibility when asked before Sunday’s game.
    — Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of ask
Noun
  • Our study takes only a tiny step – but still a step – in that direction, helping to nail down the mechanism of exotic superconductivity in graphene.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The Florida Department of Transportation website notes that at least one lane in each direction will remain open at all times.
    — Amaia Gavica, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of direction
Verb
  • Andersen in particular has struggled with such an aggressive role, where recovery pace and stomping channel defending are required to keep the shape.
    — Thom Harris, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The directions seem no more suspicious than things they’ve been required to do for a decade.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of require
Noun
  • In addition to saying the Fourth Circuit lacked jurisdiction, the US said the FCC got the law right in its directive to TV stations.
    — Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The palace directive keeps their formal royal titles in abeyance, frames their charitable work as private and leaves contentious security arrangements to police and a government panel.
    — Danica Kirka, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of directive

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dicta
dictate
dictated
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Cite this Entry

“Dictate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictate. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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