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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 dictated
With modern mattresses, this number is dictated more by the signs of wear and tear than the actual passage of time.
—
Alora Bopray, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
Sometimes the moment is dictated by time.
—John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
As the Universe expands, the fabric of space itself stretches, as dictated by general relativity.
—Big Think, 3 Apr. 2026
What kick-started an early rattlesnake season Rattlesnake activity is largely dictated by local weather, Pauly said.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
The network carved the country into regions and dictated what each audience would see.
—Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 31 Mar. 2026
And then with what the play has dictated and determined, there’s a responsibility in terms of representing all things, not exclusive to just that.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 30 Mar. 2026
It will be dictated by results or who, if anybody, comes calling.
—Andy Naylor, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026
For decades, cars dictated urban planning in the United States.
—Jess Reia, The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2026
Alora Bopray, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
Sometimes the moment is dictated by time.
—John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
As the Universe expands, the fabric of space itself stretches, as dictated by general relativity.
—Big Think, 3 Apr. 2026
What kick-started an early rattlesnake season Rattlesnake activity is largely dictated by local weather, Pauly said.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
The network carved the country into regions and dictated what each audience would see.
—Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 31 Mar. 2026
And then with what the play has dictated and determined, there’s a responsibility in terms of representing all things, not exclusive to just that.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 30 Mar. 2026
It will be dictated by results or who, if anybody, comes calling.
—Andy Naylor, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026
For decades, cars dictated urban planning in the United States.
—Jess Reia, The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dictated
Verb
-
Last year, the company was ordered to shut down by California's Office of the Attorney General for stiffing nearly 3,000 nonprofits out of millions of dollars.—
Kelly Werthmann,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
After hours, food can be ordered in-room, and ranges from quiches to terrines to comforting stews.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Copart requested the annexation in part to secure Morrison water and sewer service.—
BusinessDen,
Denver Post,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Hundreds of Korean adoptees in the West have already requested that their cases be investigated by a fact-finding commission reviewing past human rights violations.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
During the discussion in February, Ward 2 City Councilmember Melissa Cheatham asked if the former Bluejacket Pool was on the radar for the possibility for the new pool’s location.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
5 Apr. 2026
-
All candidates were asked identical questions.—
Opinion Staff,
Daily News,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dictated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictated. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
