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
In China, where strong government policies dictate the vast scale and location of photovoltaic infrastructure, thousands of square kilometers of land are being transformed. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 20 Aug. 2026 Bass has opposed the law, arguing that Sacramento should not dictate how Los Angeles develops its neighborhoods. — Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 20 Aug. 2026
Noun
The downturn bolsters the longstanding theory that the Bitcoin market follows the dictates of US election cycles. — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 3 June 2026 And Algorithmic Transparency To balance rapid technological growth with core values, leaders should implement rigorous ethical guardrails that ensure AI integration serves the mission rather than just the dictates of high-tech donors. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 28 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
  • The site has now been sequestered and Malosso was ordered to tear down the theater, though its fate remains to be seen.
    — Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
  • However, they can be ordered with Transitions lenses that darken outdoors and clear up inside.
    — Scott Kramer, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of order
Noun
  • Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have uncovered a new processor attack that can bypass defenses in Intel and AMD chips by exploiting a security gap lasting only a handful of instructions.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026
  • John’s hacking skills prove useful, as does the T-800’s extensive firepower—although per John’s instructions, there are zero human fatalities.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of instruction
Verb
  • Sustained gunfire began past midnight at the premises of the Diori Hamani International Airport, which hosts a major military base, according to an AP witness who requested anonymity for safety reasons.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The group requested agreements among MPEA, arena operator Oak View Group, the Chicago Sky and the WNBA.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of request
Noun
  • The president’s orders and edicts have no basis in reality, are nonsensical and are making our nation significantly less safe.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Imagine if an edict came down from above tomorrow that says college athletes must be treated as full-time W-2 employees.
    — Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of edict
Verb
  • When asked if Tebow wanted to discuss Sunday’s experience, a member of his PR team said the 39-year-old native of the Jacksonville area native could not fit the request into his schedule.
    — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The sheriff’s office later declined to say why that determination was made, when the remains were found or who found them when asked by CNN.
    — Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of ask
Noun
  • The technology was also tested against deceptive behaviour, an in a different scenario, fishing boats appeared to retreat while vessels from another direction accelerated toward the coastguard ship.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Despite years passing and their lives moving in different directions, the four come together and remember how beautiful and essential their friendship was and is.
    — Kara Nesvig, Parents, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of direction
Verb
  • The suits would not require the Pentagon to restart its work with the company.
    — Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Clubs would be required to set their 26-man roster every Monday during the season, but the rule wouldn’t be strict.
    — Evan Drellich, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of require
Noun
  • As they’ve mercifully been decreased from six to four to three over the last 50 years, so have the prime directives.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 25 Aug. 2026
  • In 2024, Western intelligence officials started gathering evidence that gangs in Scandinavia were subcontracting local teen-agers to carry out Iranian directives.
    — Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 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 30 Aug. 2026.

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