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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There, a mechanic began repairs on the car, but was ordered to stop because of the ongoing court arguments over the car.—
Omar Jimenez,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
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On Friday, two federal judges ordered SNAP benefits to be paid from the department's contingency fund, but confusion continued over the issue Tuesday.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Combs’ legal team requested that the musician be transferred from MDC to the prison Fort Dix in New Jersey, a low‑security prison that offers the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP).—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
1 Nov. 2025
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That same day, star cornerback Jalen Ramsey had requested a trade while leaders like Terron Armstead had opted to retire and Calais Campbell signed with the Arizona Cardinals around that same time.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Bucks did exactly what Antetokounmpo asked, playing the Warriors tough all night and eventually pulling out a win behind a career-high 32 points from Ryan Rollins.—
Eric Nehm,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
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Morelli also corresponded with the man obtaining the videos for him and asked that the torture of the animals be prolonged in subsequent videos, according to a copy of the indictment filed in the case and obtained by PEOPLE.—
Chris Spargo,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dictated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictated. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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