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
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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
Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 5 Feb. 2026
Vancouver, however, is absolutely considering the possibility of utilizing Lankinen as a shootout specialist and is willing to bring him in cold for the end-game event if the situation dictates it.
—Harman Dayal, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
The public trust doctrine dictates the state holds navigable waters in trust for the public up to the ordinary high water mark − a visual mark left by water.
—Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Since then, the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) instituted a policy that dictates the opening of a work zone must be blocked by a protection vehicle, and an adjacent lane must be closed during construction work.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
Pawn shops were originally included in the ordinance, but have since been removed since Texas state law dictates that new pawn shops will not be approved if there is another one within two miles in counties with more than 250,000 people.
—Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Jan. 2026
While reading develops cognitive agency by building a path through ideas, video dictates its own.
—Ryan Craig, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
The bill, which advanced from the Assembly Appropriations Committee on Thursday, would exempt Proposition 4 funding from review under the Administrative Procedure Act, which dictates how state agencies follow rules and regulations and can cause lengthy delays in implementing programs.
—Nadia Lathan, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2026
TikTok's powerful recommendation algorithm, which dictates much of what users see, was of particular interest with regard to the app's future.
—Monica Alba, NBC news, 22 Jan. 2026
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
However, the dictates of a person's conscience, religion, or personal philosophy cannot justify or excuse the disobedience of an otherwise lawful order.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 22 Nov. 2025
Now, suddenly, some of his dictates are falling flat with fellow Republicans.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 20 Nov. 2025
Smaller countries in the region, especially in Southeast Asia, would have to submit to Beijing’s dictates.
—Eyck Freymann, Time, 4 Nov. 2025
An invisible line between Austin and San Antonio dictates where childcare aid can be used.
—Jayme Fraser, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
Of course, the genre dictates that a seemingly sure thing be vexed, and this rom-com is no different.
—Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 5 Feb. 2026
Vancouver, however, is absolutely considering the possibility of utilizing Lankinen as a shootout specialist and is willing to bring him in cold for the end-game event if the situation dictates it.
—Harman Dayal, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
The public trust doctrine dictates the state holds navigable waters in trust for the public up to the ordinary high water mark − a visual mark left by water.
—Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Since then, the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) instituted a policy that dictates the opening of a work zone must be blocked by a protection vehicle, and an adjacent lane must be closed during construction work.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
Pawn shops were originally included in the ordinance, but have since been removed since Texas state law dictates that new pawn shops will not be approved if there is another one within two miles in counties with more than 250,000 people.
—Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Jan. 2026
While reading develops cognitive agency by building a path through ideas, video dictates its own.
—Ryan Craig, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
The bill, which advanced from the Assembly Appropriations Committee on Thursday, would exempt Proposition 4 funding from review under the Administrative Procedure Act, which dictates how state agencies follow rules and regulations and can cause lengthy delays in implementing programs.
—Nadia Lathan, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2026
TikTok's powerful recommendation algorithm, which dictates much of what users see, was of particular interest with regard to the app's future.
—Monica Alba, NBC news, 22 Jan. 2026
Noun
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
However, the dictates of a person's conscience, religion, or personal philosophy cannot justify or excuse the disobedience of an otherwise lawful order.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 22 Nov. 2025
Now, suddenly, some of his dictates are falling flat with fellow Republicans.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 20 Nov. 2025
Smaller countries in the region, especially in Southeast Asia, would have to submit to Beijing’s dictates.
—Eyck Freymann, Time, 4 Nov. 2025
An invisible line between Austin and San Antonio dictates where childcare aid can be used.
—Jayme Fraser, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dictates
Verb
-
Tired of the constant cuts, Gleeson orders Opalite and sprays his cactus, causing Swift to magically appear in his house.—
Steven J. Horowitz,
Variety,
6 Feb. 2026
-
When a customer orders orange beef or mapo tofu, a robotic arm delivers the ingredients to an electronic wok, which cooks them for precise intervals before depositing the food in a bowl.—
Aviva Bechky,
Houston Chronicle,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Those interested can find instructions for submitting a proposal here.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Students who ride the bus will be released directly from the school once the scene is deemed safe, while parents picking up their children are advised to wait for further instructions.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The memo also requests a $150,000 council allocation to fund software and other infrastructural costs tied to implementing the redistricting and officer redeployment.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The motion was filed under Rule 41(g) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure and also requests the court to unseal the affidavit used to justify the warrant.—
La'Tasha Givens,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 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 requires missiles for Patriot, NASAMS, and other (air defense) systems.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Protecting healthcare also requires broad public understanding and sustained community engagement.—
Matthew Blinstrubas,
Hartford Courant,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Estates without clear directives can be subject to lengthy and expensive probate court proceedings, which can consume up to 10% of an estate's value and take months or even years to resolve, Childfree Trust said in its report.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Gabbard said the president did not ask any questions and did not issue any directives.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Opening up new mining operations would be in keeping with the founding directive of the Forest Service, which mandates the balance of protecting resources and extracting them.—
Lauren Steele,
The Atlantic,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Texas mandates bereavement care with Everly's Law The state last year became the first to mandate maternity hospitals have a cooling bassinet and train staff in bereavement care, with the passage of Everly's Law.—
Andrea Lucia,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
There’s a dusty cloud surrounding the central, contracting star, and that cloud is strongly suspected to be disk-like, with outflows and gaps in the dust in the two directions perpendicular to the disk.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Clean the dust canister, filter, and brush roll according to the manufacturer's directions.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dictates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictates. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
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