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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Recent Examples of dictating
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
Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 19 May 2026
Marseille’s bouillabaisse follows a 1980 charter dictating which fish can go in the pot.
—Lauren Schuster, Kansas City Star, 12 May 2026
Selecting that is always among the most difficult parts in his process, Cerrudo said, because music carries such weight in dictating the identity of a dance.
—Liz Rothaus Bertrand, Charlotte Observer, 6 May 2026
Connecticut became the first state to pass a speed limit law, dictating that no motor vehicle could exceed 12 mph in cities or 15 mph outside city limits.
—USA Today, 6 May 2026
There is a trend in the NFL of teams dipping their toes into two-tight-end sets, dictating specific personnel packages for defenses.
—Alec Lewis, New York Times, 4 May 2026
To secure three points, Orlando must strike early and prevent Miami from dictating the tempo.
—Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 May 2026
The board functioned as a bridging device – a mechanism by which scientific judgment could inform federal decisions without scientists becoming political officers, and political priorities could shape research agendas without dictating findings.
—Caroline Wagner, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2026
This transit is shedding light on surface-level power and the unseen social currents secretly dictating your life.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 28 Apr. 2026
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
But the class divisions already dictating almost every aspect of higher education—from admissions to funding to reputation—will likely deepen.
—Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 19 May 2026
Marseille’s bouillabaisse follows a 1980 charter dictating which fish can go in the pot.
—Lauren Schuster, Kansas City Star, 12 May 2026
Selecting that is always among the most difficult parts in his process, Cerrudo said, because music carries such weight in dictating the identity of a dance.
—Liz Rothaus Bertrand, Charlotte Observer, 6 May 2026
Connecticut became the first state to pass a speed limit law, dictating that no motor vehicle could exceed 12 mph in cities or 15 mph outside city limits.
—USA Today, 6 May 2026
There is a trend in the NFL of teams dipping their toes into two-tight-end sets, dictating specific personnel packages for defenses.
—Alec Lewis, New York Times, 4 May 2026
To secure three points, Orlando must strike early and prevent Miami from dictating the tempo.
—Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 May 2026
The board functioned as a bridging device – a mechanism by which scientific judgment could inform federal decisions without scientists becoming political officers, and political priorities could shape research agendas without dictating findings.
—Caroline Wagner, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2026
This transit is shedding light on surface-level power and the unseen social currents secretly dictating your life.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 28 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dictating
Adjective
-
According to those close to the family, József was extremely controlling and would often make terrifying threats.—
Maddie Garfinkle,
PEOPLE,
18 Apr. 2026
-
In girl friend groups, one of the girls is a bit more controlling, a bit more sassy, and a bit more precocious than the other ones.—
Max Gao,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The United States charged Castro with four counts of murder, accusing him of ordering Cuban military jets in 1996 to shoot down civilian planes flown by a Cuban-exile aid group and killing four people aboard.—
Chris Kenning,
USA Today,
21 May 2026
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When these categories sit side by side without ordering, the paper becomes loud but not useful.—
Maman Ibrahim,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
Adjective
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Xi’s expected to be a commanding presence as host, opposite a US president known more for relying on gut instinct than meticulous preparation.—
Sylvie Zhuang,
CNN Money,
13 May 2026
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Senior midfielder Meghan O’Donnell, who scored her eighth goal of the season during Libertyville’s 3-2 win over Waubonsie Valley on Thursday, said Chung is a commanding presence.—
Bobby Narang,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
Verb
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Ben-Gvir’s management of it has been so disquieting that the Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara, a former Tel Aviv district attorney, filed a sixty-eight-page petition to the Supreme Court requesting that Netanyahu be made to defend his refusal to fire him.—
Bernard Avishai,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
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The board also approved a resolution requesting a deeper analysis into the design of the project and how transportation could be improved in the region.—
DJ Simmons,
Charlotte Observer,
18 May 2026
Adjective
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Both novels reward rereading during our own age of plutocratic media ownership and resurgent imperial folly.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 May 2026
-
Mandalore is freed from imperial control, and Bo-Katan takes control of the planet's destiny.—
Chris Snellgrove,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 May 2026
Verb
-
The Chargers are going to be more efficient while asking less of their franchise quarterback.—
Daniel Popper,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
-
His phone rang with calls from well-wishers asking about the search, and about his daughter Malak.—
Rania Abouzeid,
New Yorker,
21 May 2026
Adjective
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The tricky part of being a celebrity like Firstman on the internet is that some people can conflate your comedic persona (which is maybe a little arrogant, a little colorful) with your real identity.—
Rebecca Ford,
Vanity Fair,
14 May 2026
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Hunter is stubborn, arrogant and gifted enough to play for the Briar hockey team, yet refuses to for reasons the show has yet to reveal.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
13 May 2026
Verb
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But the bill stopped short of mandating federal oversight, instead directing the Department of Health and Human Services to study the programs.—
Samantha Rappaport,
CBS News,
18 May 2026
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The loss of life has sparked a public service campaign to enforce laws mandating self-closing doors in apartment buildings, and reminders to tenants to close doors to keep fires from spreading.—
Emma Seiwell,
New York Daily News,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dictating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictating. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
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