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
Unsurprisingly, no player has been involved in more passing sequences leading to shots than the 24-year-old this summer, given complete freedom to roam and dictate attacks with his abilities on the ball. — Thom Harris, New York Times, 4 July 2026 Even in sports, where a thralldom to analytics dictates how the games will be played. — Colin Fleming, New York Daily News, 4 July 2026
Noun
As fake dating logic dictates, proximity (and, blessedly, only one bed) leads to very real feelings. — Erin La Rosa, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026 Now, agencies must weigh whether to adhere to federal dictates or comply with state transparency rules, with some directing records custodians and media spokespersons to acknowledge public records requests but not fulfill them unless ICE grants approval, records show. — Monique O. Madan, Sun Sentinel, 11 May 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
  • That kind of granular information is important for emergency responders in the field and planners who make decisions about calling for extra help or ordering evacuations.
    — Eric Niiler, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • Americans across the nation are being asked (or ordered) to conserve water, thanks to widespread drought made even worse by a punishing heat wave.
    — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 5 July 2026
Definition of order
Noun
  • The best way for passengers to reduce their risk of injury is to follow crew instructions and keep their seat belts fastened when directed.
    — Joey Skladany, Travel + Leisure, 10 July 2026
  • Most of the victims died while attempting to flee and ignored shelter-in-place instructions, said Antonio Sanz, president of Andalusia’s emergency services.
    — Suman Naishadham, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
Definition of instruction
Verb
  • Kenneth Malin, the West Cedar Creek MUD’s general manager, did not respond to a message requesting comment on the district’s discussions with Diode.
    — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 July 2026
  • The notice requested all evidence that had not been displayed publicly be shown again – and that additional evidence introduced during the case also be made public.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
Definition of request
Noun
  • Getty Images for Ascot Racecourse The highly agile Getty shooter Alan Crowhurst has done us a great favor by bringing concrete cloakroom evidence of the many social and administrative challenges that the (famous) Royal Ascot costume edicts require in order to be properly met.
    — Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026
  • The memorandum includes a pledge by Iran to never purchase or construct nuclear weapons — a vow the Islamic Republic has made multiple times before, including by signing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, in a religious edict issued by the late supreme leader and in the Obama-era nuclear accord.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
Definition of edict
Verb
  • When asked about his All-Star nod over the weekend, Joe Ryan focused on his team’s offense and the upcoming schedule instead of himself.
    — Dan Hayes, New York Times, 6 July 2026
  • Darnell didn’t have an answer when asked if Acuff, Clifford and Cardwell will play against the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday in the final game of the California Classic.
    — Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 6 July 2026
Definition of ask
Noun
  • Other research pointed in the same direction, and by 2008, Falk and other exercise physiologists were arguing against the status-quo assumption that kids had some major natural deficits in thermoregulation.
    — Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 11 July 2026
  • Their brains combine the latest cues with all that previous experience to estimate the likely speed, direction and spin of the serve—before the ball has even crossed the net.
    — Michelle Spear, Scientific American, 11 July 2026
Definition of direction
Verb
  • The deployment aims to reduce the time required for general visual inspections while improving consistency across repetitive maintenance tasks.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 10 July 2026
  • The directives also require the companies to remove, within 45 days, the millions of pounds of rotting food inside the warehouse.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
Definition of require
Noun
  • As part of its ongoing directive to build up its golf vertical, Versant Media Group on Monday announced an agreement to acquire the sports-tech company Full Swing from an ownership group led by Bruin Capital for $530 million in cash.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 6 July 2026
  • There are moves in Congressto extend that life to 2032, however, as well as directives for NASA to support through missions to commercial space station replacements through 2040.
    — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 July 2026
Definition of directive

Browse Nearby Words

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 12 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of dictate for Spanish Speakers

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