as in ordered
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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Recent Examples of dictated
For a decade, NFL Sundays ruled his life and dictated his emotional and physical well-being.
—
Jourdan Rodrigue, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
This assault threatens our ability to think critically, remember our past honestly, and imagine a future that is not dictated by the state.
—Andrew Weinstein, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
The crabs' migration is dictated by the moon and the tides, according to the park.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
Gathering Communist Party elites will review China’s upcoming five-year plan, an economic blueprint whose direction is strictly dictated by top leadership in the authoritarian state.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2025
Tonight's episode of Raw is expected to address the vacant World Heavyweight Championship following Seth Rollins' injury, a situation requiring nuanced storytelling that, according to the latest report, will remain in human hands rather than being dictated by AI.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Oct. 2025
The salaries are dictated by the teachers union.
—Sequoia Carrillo, NPR, 15 Oct. 2025
For decades, models of solar system formation dictated that the outer realms of the solar system were dominated by molecules like water and ammonia ice.
—Paul Sutter, Space.com, 13 Oct. 2025
Proceeds from the sale were intended to help contractors recoup some of their losses on the project, as dictated by a judgment resulting from a lawsuit numerous contractors filed in 2022 against Galena.
—Rose Evans, Idaho Statesman, 11 Oct. 2025
Jourdan Rodrigue, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
This assault threatens our ability to think critically, remember our past honestly, and imagine a future that is not dictated by the state.
—Andrew Weinstein, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
The crabs' migration is dictated by the moon and the tides, according to the park.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
Gathering Communist Party elites will review China’s upcoming five-year plan, an economic blueprint whose direction is strictly dictated by top leadership in the authoritarian state.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2025
Tonight's episode of Raw is expected to address the vacant World Heavyweight Championship following Seth Rollins' injury, a situation requiring nuanced storytelling that, according to the latest report, will remain in human hands rather than being dictated by AI.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Oct. 2025
The salaries are dictated by the teachers union.
—Sequoia Carrillo, NPR, 15 Oct. 2025
For decades, models of solar system formation dictated that the outer realms of the solar system were dominated by molecules like water and ammonia ice.
—Paul Sutter, Space.com, 13 Oct. 2025
Proceeds from the sale were intended to help contractors recoup some of their losses on the project, as dictated by a judgment resulting from a lawsuit numerous contractors filed in 2022 against Galena.
—Rose Evans, Idaho Statesman, 11 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dictated
Verb
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Amid this crackdown, Russia’s Foreign Ministry ordered USAID to leave.—
Tetiana Kotelnykova,
The Atlantic,
22 Oct. 2025
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Dozens of unable-to-fly wild ducks and geese at a sanctuary in Washtenaw County's Salem Township, earlier ordered killed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, have received a reprieve.—
Keith Matheny,
Freep.com,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel requested records of complaints submitted through that form, which has been available since August 2024.—
Hope Karnopp,
jsonline.com,
27 Oct. 2025
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The civil lawsuit filed in San Diego Superior Court alleges Blain has refused to produce requested public records from his private accounts, apps and devices and has deleted public records from those same sources and asked others to delete messages from him.—
Susan Gill Vardon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Breer was taking in questions from fans for his mailbag on Sports Illustrated when he was asked about the dysfunction with the Ravens.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
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Phillips also asked that their assets be divided up by the court as separate property, with no indication in the papers that the exes had a prenup in place.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dictated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictated. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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