dictating 1 of 2

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
As well as his tempo-dictating actions on the ball, Rodri also tops the list for counter-pressing wins among all players in this World Cup. — Mark Carey, New York Times, 18 July 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
This would ensure conferences, colleges and athletes are free to negotiate and enter into agreements that benefit everyone, without the heavy hand of government dictating what parties can offer or accept. — Sen. Rand Paul Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026 But not all colleges or even high school teachers embraced the idea, in part because of concerns about a test dictating high school curricula. — Beth Kania-Gosche, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2026 Carney told the European Parliament on Thursday that countries need enough economic strength to keep any one power from dictating their choices. — ABC News, 21 Sep. 2026 Cam Edwards followed a 98-yard Week 1 with 152 rushing yards against Eastern Michigan, giving Pat Fitzgerald an offense that can try to keep Notre Dame from dictating the pace. — Jenny Catlin, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026 In addition to these trends dictating fashion overall, Faire also found that local identity is now influencing fashion at a national level. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2026 California does not have a statewide mandate dictating how far a firearms retailer must be from a school or daycare. — Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026 Concrete is important again here, dictating the lack of material variation throughout the museum, the uniform thickness of the gallery walls, and the minimal slots of light at the junctions of many walls and ceilings. — Katy Barkan, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026 Once again, the brand delegated cultural authority rather than dictating it from on high. — Michelle Bruton, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dictating
Adjective
  • Rivian, still a major non-controlling shareholder, factors into that roadmap too, since its growing fleet of on-road vehicles generates the driving data Also will eventually need to train its own autonomy systems.
    — Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Verb
  • In August, a former governor was arrested for ordering the deletion of security camera footage in Iguala on the night of the disappearances.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026
  • The White House has also challenged California’s control over its coast, ordering a review of the California Coastal Commission that could strip its authority over federal coastal projects.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Kirkwood had a commanding lead before Palou's spin caused a caution.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Adrián Marín set up the play with his pass to Tiago as Orlando took what seemed to be a commanding lead in the second half.
    — Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • McKinsey responded to his wife's court filing by requesting a domestic violence protection order against her and filing for divorce.
    — TERRY CHEA, Arkansas Online, 30 Sep. 2026
  • At the start of the bodycam footage obtained by Page Six, Milania could be heard requesting to speak to her mother.
    — Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Till then, although the frontier had been placed under imperial control, land-hungry colonists and companies kept pushing across it.
    — J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 29 Sep. 2026
  • As a historian of the European theatre, Hitchcock devotes only a single chapter to Japan’s imperial expansion in Asia during the thirties.
    — Beverly Gage, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • That same day, at least one student received a disciplinary notice asking them to schedule a meeting with the student conduct administrator in less than two weeks.
    — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2026
  • One example would be asking the agent to book a medical appointment.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Continue reading … BROKEN COVENANT — Javier Milei blasts UN as 'useless' den of 'fatally arrogant parasites' in raucous speech.
    — , FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Everybody on our side understands that impeachment is a critical tool in the toolbox for constitutional self-defense against a president acting like a king, an imperious, lawless, arrogant king.
    — NBC news, NBC news, 6 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Leaders must first allow commercial suppliers the flexibility to iterate toward the most scalable, high-yield architectures, mandating open interoperability protocols once the technology reaches industrial maturity.
    — Rohit Jha, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Wiener has passed laws protecting net neutrality, capping prescription costs and mandating mental health parity, ending mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenders, and requiring corporations disclose their greenhouse gas emissions.
    — Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Dictating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictating. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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