dictated

past tense of dictate
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 Other leaders seem resigned to the fact that this 80-year global experiment in cooperative international relations has ceded the floor once again to the world order of coercion that dictated most of human history. — Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026 Pop culture in the pre-social internet, pre-streaming era was largely dictated top-down by industry gatekeepers, designed to appeal to as many people as possible. — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 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 Meteorological seasons are dictated by the Earth's temperatures. — Mariyam Muhammad, Cincinnati Enquirer, 22 Sep. 2026 Do not live a life that is dictated by algorithms to keep your attention. — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026 In the middle of it all will be Celebrini, whose play last season usually dictated if the Sharks won or lost. — Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 18 Sep. 2026 And a lot of times that is dictated by the defense, the enemy that does have a choice in the matter. — ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026 Diesel long dictated the roads, but electric heavy transport is taking charge. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dictated
Verb
  • Ribeye, cheeseburger, egg and other food items can be ordered undercooked.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Dishes can also be ordered straight to your lounger if walking the few steps from the pool feels like too much effort.
    — Siobhan Grogan, TheWeek, 12 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The company continues to collect and share data with the FDA about the side effects reported with the drug since going to market, but the agency has not requested warning-label changes.
    — Yuki Noguchi, NPR, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Citing people familiar with the matter, Nikkei reported that Apple’s October component orders for the two models are at least 15% below what the company originally requested.
    — Fernanda Tronco, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • When asked about potential trust issues, Al Hassan pointed to the government’s history of completing projects and handling emergencies, like the pandemic.
    — Inzamam Rashid, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026
  • By the editing stage, the music had become so integral to the film that Haynes asked composer Marcelo Zarvos to rearrange and adapt it.
    — Lise Pedersen, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dictated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictated. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster