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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dictates
Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 30 Oct. 2025
Therefore, fairness dictates that blue states take action and gerrymander to the greatest extent allowed under federal law to correct the unfair advantage taken by Republicans, thereby leveling the playing field.
—Marc Lampe, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Oct. 2025
Royal styling dictates that former wives of peers can keep their courtesy title by placing their first name before it.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
When that happens, state law dictates that the commissioner must either close the campus or take over the district.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2025
No living being exists in a vacuum that dictates completely ideal circumstances.
—Mario Rodriguez, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
The primary standard relating to battery storage is NFPA 855, which dictates how to safely design, install, and operate battery projects.
—Erin Smith, Boston Herald, 22 Oct. 2025
Conventional wisdom dictates that the best way to stage a home is to depersonalize it.
—Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
The index, which dictates the movements for many 401(k) accounts, is still near its all-time high set last week.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2025
Jayme Fraser, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
Our federal government is coercing institutions to follow its dictates on student admissions, curriculum and programs.
—George R. Boggs, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Oct. 2025
At first, the doctor’s sympathies would be with the family, who seemed helpless given their lack of autonomy and the dictates of their circumstances.
—Ayşegül Savaş, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2025
Devotees give their lives over to the dictates of their AI companions, and some even profess undying love to their digital counterparts, relationships that have led to tragedy.
—Book Marks
october 2, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2025
As the trend dictates, bronze and smoky brown tones are blended onto the eyes, achieving a blurred effect that subtly highlights the glow.
—María Munsuri, Glamour, 21 Sep. 2025
The White House dictates; Puerto Rico enforces.
—Israel Melendez Ayala, Time, 16 Sep. 2025
This will not only strengthen the UK’s position as a global leader in life sciences but also ensure that patients across the country can benefit from the best innovations at the pace they are needed – rather than at the pace bureaucracy dictates.
—Kath MacKay, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
The department has stressed its policy dictates that officers do not ask people about their immigration status, and describes immigration enforcement as a federal responsibility.
—David Clarey, jsonline.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Verb
The reason so many people feel off track when daylight savings time ends is because light has a profound effect on the circadian rhythm, the body’s natural 24-hour clock that dictates when one sleeps and wakes.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 30 Oct. 2025
Therefore, fairness dictates that blue states take action and gerrymander to the greatest extent allowed under federal law to correct the unfair advantage taken by Republicans, thereby leveling the playing field.
—Marc Lampe, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Oct. 2025
Royal styling dictates that former wives of peers can keep their courtesy title by placing their first name before it.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
When that happens, state law dictates that the commissioner must either close the campus or take over the district.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2025
No living being exists in a vacuum that dictates completely ideal circumstances.
—Mario Rodriguez, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
The primary standard relating to battery storage is NFPA 855, which dictates how to safely design, install, and operate battery projects.
—Erin Smith, Boston Herald, 22 Oct. 2025
Conventional wisdom dictates that the best way to stage a home is to depersonalize it.
—Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
The index, which dictates the movements for many 401(k) accounts, is still near its all-time high set last week.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2025
Noun
An invisible line between Austin and San Antonio dictates where childcare aid can be used.
—Jayme Fraser, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
Our federal government is coercing institutions to follow its dictates on student admissions, curriculum and programs.
—George R. Boggs, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Oct. 2025
At first, the doctor’s sympathies would be with the family, who seemed helpless given their lack of autonomy and the dictates of their circumstances.
—Ayşegül Savaş, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2025
Devotees give their lives over to the dictates of their AI companions, and some even profess undying love to their digital counterparts, relationships that have led to tragedy.
—Book Marks
october 2, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2025
As the trend dictates, bronze and smoky brown tones are blended onto the eyes, achieving a blurred effect that subtly highlights the glow.
—María Munsuri, Glamour, 21 Sep. 2025
The White House dictates; Puerto Rico enforces.
—Israel Melendez Ayala, Time, 16 Sep. 2025
This will not only strengthen the UK’s position as a global leader in life sciences but also ensure that patients across the country can benefit from the best innovations at the pace they are needed – rather than at the pace bureaucracy dictates.
—Kath MacKay, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
The department has stressed its policy dictates that officers do not ask people about their immigration status, and describes immigration enforcement as a federal responsibility.
—David Clarey, jsonline.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dictates
Verb
-
Everyone who orders one from October 27 to October 31 will also earn a $5 reward for their next visit.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
-
The crew at Fireman Derek’s is cooking around the clock to pump out sweets for its three storefronts, plus Goldbelly orders that ship nationwide.—
Nila Do Simon,
Southern Living,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
On both ends, a luxury car service was arranged — with specific instructions for the driver about Bread’s motion sickness.—
Beth Landman,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Grayson was charged with first-degree murder but an option for second-degree murder was added to jury instructions before deliberations began.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Although Tea requests more protection and even asks to leave the undercover operation for safety reasons, PET pushes her to maintain her position.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
-
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Doyle’s honor to the Discovery Counseling Center.—
Kyle Martin,
Mercury News,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Ever since, as the Taliban returned to power, once again issuing edicts to suppress women and girls, the clinic and its 34-year-old midwife Atifa have continued to provide a lifeline for mothers and young children.—
Elise Blanchard,
Time,
21 Aug. 2025
-
One of the fundamental edicts of the [original Naked Gun creators] Zucker Brothers was you played against the comedy.—
Mia Galuppo,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The process requires finding a big enough question that can sustain the book.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Nov. 2025
-
That includes the brackish water in aquifers that requires desalination, as well as reuse water that goes through additional treatment before being injected back into cities’ water supplies.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The author left behind a complete manuscript, as well as a cover sketch and broad directives for the art direction.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Their involvement stayed in the realm of guidance, not directives.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The legislation also mandates that states submit annual reports to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration detailing the number of CDL applicants, test pass rates, and compliance data.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Halladay said one of his priorities is to get rid of time for time, a policy that mandates a minimum number of instructional hours per year, rather than a specific number of days.—
Angela Palermo,
Idaho Statesman,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
When the lines of a CME’s magnetic field and those of the Earth’s magnetic field are pointed in the opposite directions, the CME can unite with the Earth’s magnetosphere and fill it with vast quantities of solar energy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
-
However, Sunday also featured two teams clearly trending in opposite directions.—
Matthew Couden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dictates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictates. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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