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
In the end, finances dictated their path forward.
—
Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 11 Apr. 2026
Clinical treatment decisions were questioned or even dictated.
—Jack O'Connor, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
The Pinellas board voted for its new CEO Monday amid tension between board members about whether the months-long process was dictated by political pressure.
—Alexa Coultoff, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Apr. 2026
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
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
It will be dictated by results or who, if anybody, comes calling.
—Andy Naylor, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026
Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 11 Apr. 2026
Clinical treatment decisions were questioned or even dictated.
—Jack O'Connor, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
The Pinellas board voted for its new CEO Monday amid tension between board members about whether the months-long process was dictated by political pressure.
—Alexa Coultoff, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Apr. 2026
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
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
It will be dictated by results or who, if anybody, comes calling.
—Andy Naylor, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dictated
Verb
-
The feds last week ordered airlines to cut hundreds of flights per day at O’Hare between mid-May and late October this year, with flights allocated based on airlines’ schedules last summer.—
Talia Soglin,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The unanimous procedural decision gives the companies a new day in federal court after a state jury ordered Chevron to pay upward of $740 million to clean up damage to the state’s coastline, one of multiple similar lawsuits.—
Lindsay Whitehurst,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
On Friday, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge denied a summary judgment motion requested by the film producers Rust Movie Productions LLC, as well as actor/producer Baldwin and his firm El Dorado Pictures to dismiss the case.—
Meg James,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Apr. 2026
-
The Alameda County Public Defender's Office said that Cedric Irving had already been evaluated by four separate doctors, and the District Attorney requested that Irving be evaluated by a fourth doctor, who apparently concurred.—
Carlos E. Castañeda,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Community members are asked to bring their own bags.—
Ryan Hughes,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Earlier this week, Swalwell's campaign told ABC News that Swalwell has not received any complaints and has not asked anyone to sign non-disclosure agreements.—
Diana Paulsen,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dictated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictated. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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