as in controlling
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as in ordering
to request the doing of by virtue of one's authority
dictated that the terms of surrender be negotiated by his senior staff
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dictating
Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025
Big Think, 5 Nov. 2025
Clearly the big corporate topic has been dictating our lives.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2025
Just nothing, not dictating at the point of attack, no aggressiveness to it at all.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 25 Oct. 2025
Kaoru Mitoma and João Pedro have been constant threats on the flanks, while Pascal Groß remains the metronome in midfield, dictating the tempo with calm precision.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
Instead of dictating a maximum number of units based on zoning, floor-area ratio determines how much total square footage can be built based on a particular multiplier of the square footage of the ground-level lot.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Oct. 2025
Rather than dictating rates to providers, Unity negotiates reimbursements tied to Medicare benchmarks.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
Right now, individual Indiana counties have the authority to create ordinances dictating regulations on solar and wind project developments.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 20 Oct. 2025
Michael remembers Markus lying on the sofa, dictating the words that became his son’s final message to lawmakers.
—Asra Q. Nomani, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
The 23-year-old forward was the one with the ball in his hands, dictating actions, making decisions.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025
Verb
It’s been 120 full years since Einstein first put forth his special theory of relativity into the world, dictating how neither space nor time were absolute, but rather the speed of light was.
—Big Think, 5 Nov. 2025
Clearly the big corporate topic has been dictating our lives.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2025
Just nothing, not dictating at the point of attack, no aggressiveness to it at all.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 25 Oct. 2025
Kaoru Mitoma and João Pedro have been constant threats on the flanks, while Pascal Groß remains the metronome in midfield, dictating the tempo with calm precision.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
Instead of dictating a maximum number of units based on zoning, floor-area ratio determines how much total square footage can be built based on a particular multiplier of the square footage of the ground-level lot.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Oct. 2025
Rather than dictating rates to providers, Unity negotiates reimbursements tied to Medicare benchmarks.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
Right now, individual Indiana counties have the authority to create ordinances dictating regulations on solar and wind project developments.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 20 Oct. 2025
Michael remembers Markus lying on the sofa, dictating the words that became his son’s final message to lawmakers.
—Asra Q. Nomani, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dictating
Adjective
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Yet another was a forum for people who, like me, had left a highly controlling religious denomination.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
4 Nov. 2025
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As some fans got older, Edward's obsession with Bella seemed more controlling than swoonworthy.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In ordering the culling, CFIA repeatedly cited the need to prevent damage to the country’s nearly $7 billion poultry industry.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Participants are asked to avoid shopping, streaming, ordering online and purchasing fast food.—
Alex Perry,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The World Series continues with Game 6 as the Dodgers look to take a commanding 3-1 lead.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Taylor opted to go sans top beneath the jacket, heightening the commanding sensual style.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Arkansas Department of Human Services spokesperson Gavin Lesnick did not respond to an email requesting clarification on the minimum allotments.—
Daniel McFadin,
Arkansas Online,
6 Nov. 2025
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That changed after Adair went to more than a dozen bars in the Madison area requesting to watch a women's sports game.—
Cathy Kozlowicz,
jsonline.com,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Austria’s former imperial court jeweler, Christoph Köchert, has since examined the diamond and confirmed its authenticity.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
9 Nov. 2025
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Experts say the atlas could reshape scholarship on imperial logistics, trade networks and cultural diffusion.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Nestled on a picturesque blufftop parcel directly overlooking Paradise Cove beach, and offering around 90 feet of ocean frontage, the almost half-acre spread is asking a speck under $60 million, after first hitting the market for $75 million in early 2023.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
11 Nov. 2025
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The company is also focused on expanding team features, letting small businesses of 20-50 people share customer context so everyone knows a client’s history and preferences without asking twice.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
This version of Ryan was arrogant, unable to conceal pride in his accomplishment.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
-
So long as that situation continues, the 43-year-old’s allegedly arrogant and stand-offish treatment of his players will not worry the club hierarchy too much.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Service members such as Partezana were sworn to silence for 43 years following the tests — until the law mandating that silence was lifted in 1996 — and given little warning about the harmful physical side effects of nuclear fallout.—
Hope Hodge Seck,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
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In Maine, widely considered a blue state, a measure mandating voters provide photo ID before voting failed.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dictating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictating. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.
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