Synonyms of dictates

dictates 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of dictate

as in orders

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

• orders
• requests
• requires
• mandates
• asks
• directs
• demands
• decrees
• calls for
• ordains
• commands
• calls
• petitions

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cancels
• rescinds
• countermands

dictates

2 of 2

noun

plural of dictate

as in instructions

a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned

a starchily worded dictate from on high concerning the company's dress code

Synonyms & Similar Words

• instructions
• edicts
• orders
• directives
• directions
• dos
• commandments
• injunctions
• requirements
• decrees
• commands
• imperatives
• words
• demands
• charges
• behests
• mandates
• rules
• laws
• regulations
• precepts
• statutes
• countermands
• ordinances
• prescriptions
• prescripts
• counterorders

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• appeals
• recommendations
• petitions
• pleas
• urgings
• proposals
• entreaties
• suggestions

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of dictates

Verb

How atoms behave at the quantum level dictates the properties molecules and materials have, so understanding their wave functions is key, and Schrödinger’s formulation became widely used for this purpose. — Sophya Garashchuk, The Conversation, 1 Oct. 2026

This unique propagation gives rise to wave trajectories with directional rotation, or handedness, which dictates whether paths rotate clockwise or counterclockwise. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 28 Sep. 2026

Logic dictates that Sony would have some sort of access to premium large-format screens during a quiet time at the box office. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2026

Across virtual treatment and telehealth, engagement dictates outcomes. — Jeff Beck, Forbes.com, 28 Sep. 2026

Those are questions that will play out as the game dictates by who’s winning the one-on-one matchups. — Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026

Delaware state law dictates that state and local primaries be held the second Tuesday after the first Monday in September in general election years, pushing the primary back into the third week of September this year. — Caroline Linton, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2026

Maintaining voter lists is the responsibility of states, not the federal government, as the Constitution dictates that states control elections. — Jude Joffe-Block, NPR, 3 Sep. 2026

For a precision folding bike where millimeter-perfect alignment dictates how smoothly the hinges open and close, keeping the metal perfectly straight is a manufacturing advantage. — New Atlas, 29 Aug. 2026

Noun

At the heart of Wang’s vision for WWM is a model where the public dictates which stories are worth further exploration. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2026

The individual sensibilities of people who directed them were subordinated to dictates of the franchise. — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026

But rather than riding on the top of the mikoshi, or portable Shinto shrine, as tradition dictates, the heavily pregnant Kawata walked behind it. — Reuters, NBC news, 20 July 2026

Starting next week, a 30-member task force will begin reviewing 24 proposals for a cut of Orange County’s Tourist Development Tax proceeds, which state law dictates must generally be used to promote tourism. — Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 July 2026

The difference is the true deficit, as the Legislature’s nonpartisan budget analyst Gabe Petek sees it — and as common sense dictates. — Dan Walters, Mercury News, 9 July 2026

Tradition dictates, in its birthplace of the Piedmont region of Italy, that tonnato is served with thin pieces of veal. — Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 29 June 2026

The downturn bolsters the longstanding theory that the Bitcoin market follows the dictates of US election cycles. — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 3 June 2026

Prioritize Human Oversight And Algorithmic Transparency To balance rapid technological growth with core values, leaders should implement rigorous ethical guardrails that ensure AI integration serves the mission rather than just the dictates of high-tech donors. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026