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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in controlling
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dictating
David Clarey, jsonline.com, 3 Oct. 2025
In order to fund the government, every year, Congress must pass legislation dictating how funds are to be disbursed.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 1 Oct. 2025
Recent federal cuts to research funding and the punishment of Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policies seek to reshape academic labor on the back end, by dictating what scholars can teach and research after they’ve been hired to perform those tasks.
—Time, 1 Oct. 2025
For Rachel, the goal is to encourage critical thinking without dictating how her kids should feel.
—Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
Benner said the university wants more on-campus housing, but city regulations dictating building heights, campus boundaries and other details have been tough to navigate.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 28 Sep. 2025
From that moment on, there was bipartisan agreement that while broadcasters carried obligations to serve the public interest, the government had no business dictating content.
—John Eger, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Sep. 2025
My father, in his last days, had started dictating wishes for his burial and the wake.
—Literary Hub, 25 Sep. 2025
And through TikTok, YouTube and Instagram, the social platforms are creating new ways for brand discovery, creating social trends and dictating what resonates for brands.
—Kanika Talwar, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Long history of policy changes Police chases in Milwaukee have been a frequent topic of debate in the city, and the policy dictating them is intertwined with the city's reckless driving issues.
—David Clarey, jsonline.com, 3 Oct. 2025
In order to fund the government, every year, Congress must pass legislation dictating how funds are to be disbursed.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 1 Oct. 2025
Recent federal cuts to research funding and the punishment of Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policies seek to reshape academic labor on the back end, by dictating what scholars can teach and research after they’ve been hired to perform those tasks.
—Time, 1 Oct. 2025
For Rachel, the goal is to encourage critical thinking without dictating how her kids should feel.
—Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
Benner said the university wants more on-campus housing, but city regulations dictating building heights, campus boundaries and other details have been tough to navigate.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 28 Sep. 2025
From that moment on, there was bipartisan agreement that while broadcasters carried obligations to serve the public interest, the government had no business dictating content.
—John Eger, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Sep. 2025
My father, in his last days, had started dictating wishes for his burial and the wake.
—Literary Hub, 25 Sep. 2025
And through TikTok, YouTube and Instagram, the social platforms are creating new ways for brand discovery, creating social trends and dictating what resonates for brands.
—Kanika Talwar, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dictating
Verb
-
Eliza Varadi, a pediatrician in South Carolina, told me that the murkiness around insurance coverage, coupled with lower demand, has prompted her practice to start ordering COVID vaccines just one box at a time—each a batch of 10 doses—to minimize the potential for loss.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
3 Oct. 2025
-
The judge denied the motion, ordering the hip-hop mogul to remain in jail until sentencing.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The startup will pay Nvidia in cash for chips, and Nvidia will invest in OpenAI for non-controlling shares, the person said.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
23 Sep. 2025
-
In the meantime, overly strict or controlling behavior—especially from moms—can increase social anxiety.—
Sarah Scott,
Parents,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Traditionally, National Guard activation begins at the state level, with governors requesting support during emergencies.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Oct. 2025
-
California Highway Patrol dispatch logs indicated that all lanes were blocked immediately after the crash, with officials requesting a SigAlert.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Instead, Reeves became Estragon, the more simplistic and long-suffering of the duo, while Winter tackled Vladimir, the more commanding and verbose character.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Since the late 90s, Jungen has forged a name for himself internationally through his commanding sculptural practice.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Donovan isn’t asking Giddey or Kevin Huerter to transform into elite one-on-one defenders.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Advocates recommend reaching out and asking them to explain the denial.—
Duaa Eldeib,
ProPublica,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Western European leaders and Ukraine cast the war as an imperial-style land grab and have repeatedly vowed to defeat Russian forces.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Herod Antipas, who was raised in Rome, was well known to Augustus and his imperial court.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
On Monday, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act into law, requiring AI companies to disclose their safety practices while stopping short of mandating actual safety testing.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
30 Sep. 2025
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After an unfavorable appeals court decision in December, Nasdaq stopped mandating companies disclose their board gender and diversity stats.—
Julia Boorstin,
CNBC,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Jack Cutmore-Scott as Julius Beaufort, an arrogant new money banker at the center of New York society with an interest in Ellen.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Jean stepped out as Nia approached—lean and arrogant, a cigarette pinched between her lips.—
David Wright Faladé,
New Yorker,
28 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dictating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictating. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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