DICTATING Synonyms: 93 Similar and Opposite Words

dictating 1 of 2

adjective

as in controlling

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Dissimilar Words

dictating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of dictate

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of dictating

Adjective

And these players were initially signed to help Forest become a side capable of retaining more possession and dictating games. — Paul Taylor, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026 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

The data underscores that while clean energy scales, overall decarbonization remains insufficient, with regional shifts dictating global progress. — Robert Rapier, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026 With no federal regulations dictating what information labels should include, the stamps have led to consumer confusion — and nearly 20% of the nation’s food waste, according to the Food and Drug Administration. — Olga R. Rodriguez, Fortune, 2 July 2026 With no federal regulations dictating what information labels should include, the stamps have led to consumer confusion — and nearly 20% of the nation’s food waste, according to the Food and Drug Administration. — ABC News, 1 July 2026 Her exhibit design vision, envisaged in partnership with partner Paul Cournet and his studio Cloud, incorporated luminescence and hues that radiated from the gems, dictating the color palette of purple, green, yellow and pink. — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 25 June 2026 Rodriguez almost played as an auxiliary right-back instead of an orthodox right-winger, dropping deep and dictating play. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 24 June 2026 According to Reuters, in the lead-up to SpaceX’s IPO Musk was dictating terms to Goldman Sachs and other banks. — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 20 June 2026 Both men were experiencing mental health crises when they were shot, and the incidents sparked calls from community members for accountability, including new legislation dictating how police should respond during a mental health crisis. — Emilia Otte, Hartford Courant, 13 June 2026 Recorded in Los Angeles, the Turks and Caicos, and France, KOBE credits the ambiance of each setting with dictating the mixtape’s production. — Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 12 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dictating

Adjective

This has impacted every aspect of his life — sleep, eating habits and his controlling attitude toward me.

— Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 4 July 2026
Versant will become a minority, non-controlling investor in the company.

— Brian Steinberg, Variety, 2 June 2026

Definition of controlling

Verb

Insider tip If a full villa is not in the cards, look at one of the mid-tier suites and then lean heavily into in-room dining; ordering an omakase-style spread plus cocktails to your room is one of the most fun ways to use this hotel.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 July 2026
Summer House Canada follows Hayu earlier ordering its first original series, The Real Housewives of London, which was recently renewed for a second season.

— Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 9 July 2026

Definition of ordering

Adjective

Edwards, who had been the commanding officer of HSC-5 since July 2025, was posthumously promoted to captain, the Navy said in a statement.

— Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 9 July 2026
And beyond all the light and magic of their goals, this was just a very commanding team performance.

— Jack Lang, New York Times, 1 July 2026

Definition of commanding

Verb

The hysteria often comes with a fat dollop of Trumpian imperiousness, not requesting your engagement so much as demanding it.

— Michelle Cottle, Mercury News, 9 July 2026
The complaint seeks damages, profits from the allegedly infringing work, and an injunction preventing Hatchet from being sold or exhibited, while also requesting that the painting either be turned over to Reemtsen or destroyed.

— Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 8 July 2026

Definition of requesting

Adjective

The result, historians say, has become a centralized, more politicized spectacle, marking the national milestone as a celebration of an imperial presidency rather than a revolution from kingly rule.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
Depicting the rise and spectacular fall of an Anglo- and Euro-centric civilization, the series was originally presented as an allegorical warning about imperial expansion to the then-young nation.

— Cat Dawson, ARTnews.com, 3 July 2026

Definition of imperial

Verb

Nester also called into question the security protocols surrounding the event, asking Bagley about how many officers were assigned and other preparations.

— Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
Shipwrecked includes recordings of a series of increasingly astonishing phone calls between Schettino and the Italian Coast Guard, with the latter repeatedly asking him to clarify the nature of the emergency.

— Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 11 July 2026

Definition of asking

Adjective

West Germany, arrogant attitude adjusted, pounded Chile, 4-1.

— David j. Neal, Miami Herald, 24 June 2026
Lasso, in his initial introduction to audiences, wasn’t the warm, pun-loving, inspirational coach audiences would eventually embrace through Apple +, but a slightly arrogant buffoon parodying the average American sports fan.

— Charles Moss, New York Times, 24 June 2026

Definition of arrogant

Verb

Since Mary Grace’s death, her parents have poured their energy into persuading lawmakers to make camps safer by banning cabins in active flood plains, mandating 24-7 weather monitoring and requiring rigorous annual evacuation training.

— Johnny Dodd, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026
Minnesota won’t enforce a new law mandating pop-up mental health warnings on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok until a legal challenge is resolved in court.

— Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 1 July 2026

Definition of mandating

Browse Nearby Words

dictates

dictating

dictation

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Style

“Dictating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictating. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of dictating

adjective

verb

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