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
An old-school shag hairstyle traditionally hits between the collarbone and chest, but face shape and hair texture should dictate your most flattering length. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 27 Sep. 2026 Food and drink Meals are all-inclusive, communal, and dictated by what the team pulls from the water and garden that morning. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Sep. 2026
Noun
The difference is the true deficit, as the Legislature’s nonpartisan budget analyst Gabe Petek sees it — and as common sense dictates. — Dan Walters, Mercury News, 9 July 2026 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 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
  • Four years ago, Tennessee's governor ordered another independent review into capital punishment after abruptly stopping the April 2022 execution of Oscar Smith.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The pool was reportedly ordered to remain closed until further inspection, according to the complaint.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of order
Noun
  • According to Dutch News, neither officials in Curaçao nor the Dutch government have said where the instruction originated.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026
  • However, considering the nature of the investigation and Chen’s access to children through his music instruction, sheriff’s officials said investigators want to ensure no inappropriate contact with a child has gone unreported.
    — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of instruction
Verb
  • Raffensperger, a Republican who had provided the public version of the voter list with less information requested by the DOJ, welcomed the decision.
    — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Both the prosecution and the defense appealed that verdict, with the prosecution requesting 14 years and the defense pushing for acquittal.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of request
Noun
  • The edict is to transform the operating model when the market fundamentally shifts so the company can thrive in a changing environment.
    — Erik Clarke, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026
  • The film by and large follows the edicts of Iranian neorealism, with unobtrusive observations and a naturalistic soundscape.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of edict
Verb
  • As Arkansas families navigate a new education landscape, asking the right questions can help ensure that choice leads not just to change, but to growth, stability, and opportunity for the students who matter most.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Then Teresa gets brought up onstage by the mentalist, who asks her to think of someone meaningful in her life from before the cameras, who nobody in the room would know the name of.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of ask
Noun
  • Our research is already leading in new directions beyond ancient interiors.
    — Jacqueline Ortoleva, Scientific American, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The team notes that this version uses one cell line, muscle fibers aligned in one direction and simple shapes.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of direction
Verb
  • The role required Cruise to transform with prosthetics (including a fat suit and thinning white hair) and a put-on Southern accent, but, mostly, the absurdist satire demanded his full acting range.
    — Angelique Jackson, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The challenge required teams to transport as much weight as possible over the four-nautical-mile course.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of require
Noun
  • On the heels of that directive, the bureau issued new guidance that prohibited staff from granting requests for clothing accommodations for those inmates and barred the use of federal dollars for medical interventions.
    — Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Some have done so, the prosecutor explained, by slow-walking directives of dubious merit, such as orders to investigate voter fraud by noncitizens—a phenomenon that Trump has falsely claimed is rampant.
    — Eyal Press, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 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 5 Oct. 2026.

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