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

The data, Manfred says, already dictates the results of this postseason. — Barry M. Bloom, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026

All this does is strengthen a tired argument that has existed in baseball since the ‘90s; that market size dictates the winners. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Aug. 2026

Lawlor is also a member of the Police Officers Standards and Training Council — which dictates training criteria for police in Connecticut. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 3 Aug. 2026

Insurance coverage typically dictates which path comes first. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 3 Aug. 2026

Since then, tradition dictates that every member of the royal family travel with a black outfit, ready to be worn in the event of a death. — Mathilde Engelmann, Vanity Fair, 31 July 2026

The letter also addressed concerns that the new salary cap would blow past revenue-sharing amounts established in the House settlement, which dictates the terms of paying players. — ABC News, 30 July 2026

Boyd’s insight was that whoever observes and orients better gets inside their opponent’s decision cycle and dictates the fight. — Nnamdi Iregbulem, Fortune, 29 July 2026

Federal law dictates foreign policy and diplomatic relations, protecting heads of state from being arrested by local officials such as Mamdani. — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 25 July 2026

Noun

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

As fake dating logic dictates, proximity (and, blessedly, only one bed) leads to very real feelings. — Erin La Rosa, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026

Now, agencies must weigh whether to adhere to federal dictates or comply with state transparency rules, with some directing records custodians and media spokespersons to acknowledge public records requests but not fulfill them unless ICE grants approval, records show. — Monique O. Madan, Sun Sentinel, 11 May 2026