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dicta

noun

variants also dictums
plural of dictum
as in doctrines
formal a statement or well-known remark that expresses an important idea, observation, or opinion A doctor must follow the dictum of "First, do no harm."

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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 dicta Safe and familiar as that trajectory might be in a post-#GirlBoss rom-com, Goldstein and Joe Kelly’s script adds a little spice into the mix by questioning the dictums of today’s office culture. — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 4 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dicta
  1. doctrines
  2. rules
  3. dictates
  4. axioms
  5. laws
  6. maxims
  7. standards
  8. premises
Noun
  • First, the law takes its time in responding to new technologies, figuring that new tools can be accommodated within existing ideas, rules, and doctrines.
    — Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Because of the boldness of their political positions and doctrines, progressives can be seen as more charismatic than their more centrist counterparts.
    — Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of doctrines
Noun
  • Whatever to the silly old poem and whatever to the ceremony and all its stupid little details and whatever to all the rules for daughters.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Next up, if the deal closes as expected in a couple weeks, is the plan to start finding those $6 billion in cost synergies between the companies while fulfilling the rules-of-the-road in the consent decree.
    — Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of rules
Noun
  • At the heart of Wang’s vision for WWM is a model where the public dictates which stories are worth further exploration.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The individual sensibilities of people who directed them were subordinated to dictates of the franchise.
    — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of dictates
Noun
  • The question fascinated David Hilbert, a renowned mathematician who had devoted much of his life to rebuilding physics on a sturdy foundation of crisp axioms.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Yes, the Greeks made remarkable advances in mathematics, but mostly in geometry, which is about solid, stable objects and uses a strict hierarchy of axioms, rules, and procedures—very Platonic.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of axioms
Noun
  • Tax laws or regulations are subject to change at any time and can have a substantial impact on an actual client situation.
    — Rob Edwards, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The same statute says the state board is responsible for ensuring local school boards comply with state laws and regulations.
    — Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of laws
Noun
  • The walls are robin’s-egg blue, painted with images of meditating skeletons and vaguely inspirational maxims.
    — John Semley, Harpers Magazine, 28 July 2026
  • By now, decades into Americans’ pursuit of cooking as a mainstream hobby, certain maxims have become near-law among food lovers.
    — Emily Heil, Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2026
Definition of maxims
Noun
  • This could simplify operations for carriers that operate aircraft with both engine standards.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The Senate has been addressing this week nominee confirmations and a bipartisan college sports bill to create standards on how athletes are paid, priorities that Republicans warn present poor optics to voters.
    — Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of standards
Noun
  • Keeping data onsite DiagFit also supports on-premises deployment, giving customers an alternative to sending operational information into cloud infrastructure.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The Partner-Centric Cloud Advantage Integrators can leverage multitenant cloud platforms to eliminate on-premises server overhead and centralize multisite administration.
    — Robert Messer, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of premises

Browse Nearby Words

dicks
dicta
dictate
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Cite this Entry

“Dicta.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dicta. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

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