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
Thomas Cangelosi, Hartford Courant, 4 Jan. 2026
Officers euthanized two mountain lions in the area, as CPW policy dictates that wildlife that attacks humans must be euthanized.
—Mason Leath, ABC News, 2 Jan. 2026
Tradition dictates that women are not allowed to enter the dohyō (wrestling ring).
—Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Jan. 2026
Conventional wisdom dictates that a performer hoping to be taken seriously by his peers and the public has to take himself seriously; think sober post-screening talkbacks, not silly bits with blimps.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 22 Dec. 2025
This concept dictates that AI serves primarily in an assistive capacity, ensuring that a human remains in the loop for critical decisions like final underwriting, where judgment and empathy are irreplaceable.
—Geoff Green, Fortune, 22 Dec. 2025
United Airlines dictates that basic economy customers are not allowed a carry-on bag, ticket changes and upgrades.
—Dallas Morning News, Boston Herald, 20 Dec. 2025
The agreement dictates the school district is to train staff on how to distinguish when something might require a school resource officer to respond or solely school staff.
—Rory Linnane, jsonline.com, 18 Dec. 2025
The 34-year-old democratic socialist is poised to take control of a 306,000-person municipal workforce in the global center of capitalism that also functions as a cultural hub that dictates trends around the world.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 5 Nov. 2025
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
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
Verb
Even with my winter boots and sturdy soles, caution dictates a short stride, a shuffling gait end eyes riveted to the slippery ground.
—Thomas Cangelosi, Hartford Courant, 4 Jan. 2026
Officers euthanized two mountain lions in the area, as CPW policy dictates that wildlife that attacks humans must be euthanized.
—Mason Leath, ABC News, 2 Jan. 2026
Tradition dictates that women are not allowed to enter the dohyō (wrestling ring).
—Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Jan. 2026
Conventional wisdom dictates that a performer hoping to be taken seriously by his peers and the public has to take himself seriously; think sober post-screening talkbacks, not silly bits with blimps.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 22 Dec. 2025
This concept dictates that AI serves primarily in an assistive capacity, ensuring that a human remains in the loop for critical decisions like final underwriting, where judgment and empathy are irreplaceable.
—Geoff Green, Fortune, 22 Dec. 2025
United Airlines dictates that basic economy customers are not allowed a carry-on bag, ticket changes and upgrades.
—Dallas Morning News, Boston Herald, 20 Dec. 2025
The agreement dictates the school district is to train staff on how to distinguish when something might require a school resource officer to respond or solely school staff.
—Rory Linnane, jsonline.com, 18 Dec. 2025
The 34-year-old democratic socialist is poised to take control of a 306,000-person municipal workforce in the global center of capitalism that also functions as a cultural hub that dictates trends around the world.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 5 Nov. 2025
Noun
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dictates
Verb
-
With his gun pointed at McNealy, Heisler orders him to show his hands and not reach for anything.—
Monroe Trombly,
Louisville Courier Journal,
6 Jan. 2026
-
The agent then orders Parias to turn off his vehicle.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
30 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The company also announced a partnership with Google DeepMind to integrate Gemini Robotics AI, enabling Atlas to reason through complex instructions and operate in unstructured environments.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Jan. 2026
-
At first, doctors sent them home from the hospital with instructions to monitor her symptoms.—
Leondra Head,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The family requests donations in his memory be directed to The John Dimitri Research Foundation for Congenital Heart Disease.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The lawsuit requests a jury trial.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Williams agreed that the attempt did not make sense and explained that his thoughts were informed by intoxication and competing internal edicts from a devil and angel.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Dec. 2025
-
Saudi Arabia appears to be slowly and quietly rolling back its near-blanket bans on alcohol consumption, signaling perhaps another instance of the Kingdom’s strict religious edicts yielding to its push for international appeal.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The best storytelling requires revision.—
Jerry Brewer,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Then lawmakers passed a law that requires legislative approval for such an action.—
Kayla Dwyer,
IndyStar,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The letter details other claims of favoritism and disregard for recent board directives to curb spending, like attempting to hire for vacant positions and authorizing overtime expenditures despite the hiring and overtime freeze enacted in the board approved fiscal solvency plan.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Indeed, her dynamic with her clientele is long-term, 360-degree and more of a two-way dialogue than directives on what to wear where — and when.—
James Manso,
Footwear News,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The investigations are required by AB 1506, which mandates a state investigation of any shooting by a law enforcement officer that kills a person who was not carrying a deadly weapon.—
Bay Area News Group,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
That city ordinance, along with state law, also mandates yearly increases in an effort to keep up with the increasing cost of living.—
Austen Erblat,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Just like a star, Dallas is sprawling out in different directions.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The rural highway was closed in both directions while the crash was investigated and the wreckage cleared.—
Kristina Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dictates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictates. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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