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
Sherri Gordon, Parents, 15 Mar. 2026
At scale, culture dictates whether tech amplifies integrity or risk.
—K. H. Koehler, AZCentral.com, 13 Mar. 2026
Even more striking was how Sinner, who dictates so many matches, took Tien’s attacks out of his hands.
—Ava Wallace, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
As part of the loan, Gardullo said, the South African government has a robust cultural patrimony law that dictates how its artifacts and historical materials are treated and how long they can be loaned out.
—ABC News, 12 Mar. 2026
As tradition dictates in the long-running slasher franchise, the film opens with a kill.
—Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 8 Mar. 2026
The bill dictates that the landlord's notice must include the date when the eviction is scheduled to be executed.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
Households estimate their annual income for the coming year, which dictates their total premium tax credit.
—Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 6 Mar. 2026
Afghanistan’s Sharia Law also dictates that a woman’s testimony is worth half that of a man.
—Mick Krever, CNN Money, 1 Mar. 2026
Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 15 Mar. 2026
There is perhaps no sport that is more in thrall to the dictates of orthodoxy than baseball, which is so steeped in tradition that a visit to the ballpark is often a bit like hopping into a time machine.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 13 Mar. 2026
Beloved ’s revenant defies the dictates of realism according to which a character is a bounded individual.
—Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 17 Feb. 2026
Local control ensures that voting reflects the needs of the community, not the dictates of a federal bureaucracy.
—Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
The deregulatory agenda, the most significant since President Ronald Reagan’s, has begun to liberate households and businesses from the dictates of Washington’s bureaucracy.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
The Institute for Postnatural Studies does not aim to conform to the dictates of traditional academia, as its name might imply.
—Catherine Taft, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026
Magritte is an artist who comes with a host of associated personal symbols—all those apples, bowler hats, mirrors, and trains—which interact according to the dictates of dream logic.
—Literary Hub, 23 Dec. 2025
Russia is too big compared with Ukraine, and its willingness to fight on dictates that ending the war will require Ukraine to make concessions.
—Thomas Friedman, Mercury News, 5 Dec. 2025
Verb
The song dictates the importance of resilience and the presence of love and support that surrounds us all.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 15 Mar. 2026
At scale, culture dictates whether tech amplifies integrity or risk.
—K. H. Koehler, AZCentral.com, 13 Mar. 2026
Even more striking was how Sinner, who dictates so many matches, took Tien’s attacks out of his hands.
—Ava Wallace, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
As part of the loan, Gardullo said, the South African government has a robust cultural patrimony law that dictates how its artifacts and historical materials are treated and how long they can be loaned out.
—ABC News, 12 Mar. 2026
As tradition dictates in the long-running slasher franchise, the film opens with a kill.
—Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 8 Mar. 2026
The bill dictates that the landlord's notice must include the date when the eviction is scheduled to be executed.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
Households estimate their annual income for the coming year, which dictates their total premium tax credit.
—Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 6 Mar. 2026
Afghanistan’s Sharia Law also dictates that a woman’s testimony is worth half that of a man.
—Mick Krever, CNN Money, 1 Mar. 2026
Noun
The girls decide to go and look for a traditional skirt for Qihuo to commemorate this rite of passage, as tradition dictates.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 15 Mar. 2026
There is perhaps no sport that is more in thrall to the dictates of orthodoxy than baseball, which is so steeped in tradition that a visit to the ballpark is often a bit like hopping into a time machine.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 13 Mar. 2026
Beloved ’s revenant defies the dictates of realism according to which a character is a bounded individual.
—Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 17 Feb. 2026
Local control ensures that voting reflects the needs of the community, not the dictates of a federal bureaucracy.
—Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
The deregulatory agenda, the most significant since President Ronald Reagan’s, has begun to liberate households and businesses from the dictates of Washington’s bureaucracy.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
The Institute for Postnatural Studies does not aim to conform to the dictates of traditional academia, as its name might imply.
—Catherine Taft, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026
Magritte is an artist who comes with a host of associated personal symbols—all those apples, bowler hats, mirrors, and trains—which interact according to the dictates of dream logic.
—Literary Hub, 23 Dec. 2025
Russia is too big compared with Ukraine, and its willingness to fight on dictates that ending the war will require Ukraine to make concessions.
—Thomas Friedman, Mercury News, 5 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dictates
Verb
-
Jacob Elordi walks up to the bar with his arm around his mom and orders tequila on the rocks with a lime.—
Rachel Handler,
Vulture,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Princess Kate brewed her husband a cappuccino sans latte art, but Prince William usually orders a decaf drink.—
Chanel Vargas,
InStyle,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Let sit for 20 to 60 minutes, depending on the product's instructions.—
Tessa Cooper,
The Spruce,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Draft an important note, then revisit instructions, while keeping your tone respectful and firm.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In a letter to Tamarac city officials dated March 5, the OIG requests a trove of material from the west Broward city, including contracts, invoices, payments, copies of checks, emails and text messages.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
18 Mar. 2026
-
The order is set to expire in 90 days unless DFPS requests an extension.—
Jane Harper,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Covid-19 bred doubt about government edicts and skepticism about science, provoking an existential battle for truth.—
Richard Edelman,
Time,
18 Jan. 2026
-
Trump edicts weigh on stocks this week Geopolitical risks have weighed on investor sentiment this week.—
Pia Singh,
CNBC,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
This typically requires a lot of cooling gear, and space is at a premium on aircraft.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Mar. 2026
-
The lifeguard position in Aurora pays $17 per hour and requires a flexible schedule.—
Michael Abeyta,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In the process, Sable has been accused of repeatedly ignoring the directives of state and local officials, as well as criminal acts related to California environmental and coastal laws.—
Grace Toohey,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Under the second order, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau would update the requirements under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act to lessen the regulatory burdens for obtaining a mortgage, among other directives.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Proposition 98, passed by California voters in 1988, mandates a minimum annual funding guarantee for the state’s K-12 schools and community colleges.—
Julie Gallant,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The law mandates the investigation.—
Ryan Brennan
March 9,
Kansas City Star,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Walt Whitman Bridge is closed in both directions Tuesday night because of police activity, the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management announced.—
Tom Ignudo,
CBS News,
18 Mar. 2026
-
The closed stretch covered 26 miles, from mile point 183 to mile point 209, in both directions.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Denver Post,
17 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dictates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictates. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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