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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of dictates
Ewan Spence,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
Casa said time dictates the volume of impact, whether from fluid or cooling.
—
Dorany Pineda,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2026
For cancer survivors, South Florida’s unforgiving heat and humidity can be an invisible threat that dictates how the day will go.
—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
18 June 2026
The state ultimately dictates how property value is assessed, but county officials try to project property tax revenue when creating the budget.
—
Emily Harter,
Kansas City Star,
18 June 2026
Spain’s system to distribute their squad numbers dictates that players with the most caps choose first among the available shirt numbers.
—
Pol Ballús,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
Alternatively, a policy, which dictates the internal actions of the county, including its employees, could be implemented right at adoption, Carlson said.
—
Sierra Lopez,
Mercury News,
15 June 2026
Under the shadow of a supreme leader who dictates key decisions, and cunning politicians maneuvering for power, the Iranian presidency has over the past two years been reduced to little more than administering the edicts imposed from above.
—
Nadeen Ebrahim,
CNN Money,
12 June 2026
Drone operators who want to fly in these regions must receive formal FAA authorization for any flight, which also dictates flight paths.
—
Agamemnon Crassidis,
The Conversation,
11 June 2026
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
Central Florida officials are still pushing back against the state’s pro-profiteering dictates, and defending local initiatives like urban growth boundaries.
—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 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
Its core principle is that when convenience dictates or necessity requires, a country must allow the people, goods and vessels of other nations to pass through its territory for a journey that begins and ends elsewhere.
—
Vivek Krishnamurthy,
The Conversation,
5 May 2026
Here’s what the rulebook dictates… and what Wellens actually said.
—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
5 May 2026
Regulatory prescription shapes the work itself—banking’s SR 11-7 dictates model risk management in detail, while retail has almost no sector-specific AI regulation.
—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
2 May 2026
Verb
Apple’s iPhone launch dictates the global smartphone cycle.
—
Ewan Spence,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
Casa said time dictates the volume of impact, whether from fluid or cooling.
—
Dorany Pineda,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2026
For cancer survivors, South Florida’s unforgiving heat and humidity can be an invisible threat that dictates how the day will go.
—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
18 June 2026
The state ultimately dictates how property value is assessed, but county officials try to project property tax revenue when creating the budget.
—
Emily Harter,
Kansas City Star,
18 June 2026
Spain’s system to distribute their squad numbers dictates that players with the most caps choose first among the available shirt numbers.
—
Pol Ballús,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
Alternatively, a policy, which dictates the internal actions of the county, including its employees, could be implemented right at adoption, Carlson said.
—
Sierra Lopez,
Mercury News,
15 June 2026
Under the shadow of a supreme leader who dictates key decisions, and cunning politicians maneuvering for power, the Iranian presidency has over the past two years been reduced to little more than administering the edicts imposed from above.
—
Nadeen Ebrahim,
CNN Money,
12 June 2026
Drone operators who want to fly in these regions must receive formal FAA authorization for any flight, which also dictates flight paths.
—
Agamemnon Crassidis,
The Conversation,
11 June 2026
Noun
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
Central Florida officials are still pushing back against the state’s pro-profiteering dictates, and defending local initiatives like urban growth boundaries.
—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 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
Its core principle is that when convenience dictates or necessity requires, a country must allow the people, goods and vessels of other nations to pass through its territory for a journey that begins and ends elsewhere.
—
Vivek Krishnamurthy,
The Conversation,
5 May 2026
Here’s what the rulebook dictates… and what Wellens actually said.
—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
5 May 2026
Regulatory prescription shapes the work itself—banking’s SR 11-7 dictates model risk management in detail, while retail has almost no sector-specific AI regulation.
—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
2 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dictates
Verb
-
Corlys orders his men to thread the rocky Dragonstone pass at low tide, even relieving the helmsman of the ship’s wheel at the crucial moment.
-
Agent Greer orders him to drop the weapon.
Noun
-
For large populations, use a product containing spinosad, bifenthrin or Bacillius thurgiensis, according to label instructions.
-
The Court also decided on Monday not to grant a retrial to a man convicted in a notorious decades-old cold case, reversing a decision that determined the jurors who convicted Pedro Hernandez of killing Etan Patz more than 40 years ago received improper instructions.
Verb
-
The permit application, by Winick Productions, also requests permission for an exterior canopy that could be used to conceal comings and goings, the officials said, adding that the permit listed the size of the event between 500 and 999 people.
-
Filed earlier this month, the permit application also requests authorization to set up a tent or canopy outside MSG.
Noun
-
Getty Images for Ascot Racecourse The highly agile Getty shooter Alan Crowhurst has done us a great favor by bringing concrete cloakroom evidence of the many social and administrative challenges that the (famous) Royal Ascot costume edicts require in order to be properly met.
-
The age of the Germanic male genius delivering edicts from on high has run its course.
Verb
-
Supporters of the parking lot say the land is currently uninhabited and requires consistent police presence to deter criminal activities.
-
For one, owning compute infrastructure also requires maintenance and constant upkeep, meaning that specialists have to be brought on board.
Noun
-
The attorneys general challenged several of its directives, including a provision that required state and local officials to collect proof of citizenship from vote-by-mail applicants.
-
Following two landmark rulings from the state’s high court affirming the new maps, as well as directives from Missouri’s secretary of state and attorney general, local election boards, including the KCEB, prepared August ballots to account for the changes to voters’ districts.
Verb
-
Such are the restrictions of a woefully outdated NCAA bylaw that mandates a two-year transition period during which reclassifying programs are ineligible for postseason play.
-
The Federal Aviation Administration mandates the Airport Disaster and Preparedness Training (ADAPT) exercise every three years.
Noun
-
This speed is especially useful during swarm attacks, when many drones might come from different directions at once.
-
Highway 9 was closed in both directions for about three hours as police recovered the vehicle and processed the scene.
Cite this Entry
“Dictates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictates. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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