variants
also dictums
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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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
David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 4 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dicta
Noun
-
Assayas’s aesthetic is too genteel to even imagine the specifics of loathsome doctrines.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
13 May 2026
-
The democratization of drone warfare complicates traditional counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations, requiring new doctrines, technologies, and legislative frameworks to confront the evolving threat landscape.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Public fireworks productions require display permits, according to state rules.—
Dennis Romero,
NBC news,
8 June 2026
-
So Daniel’s book violated those rules, and Louis’ actions within the book did, too.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
7 June 2026
Noun
-
The downturn bolsters the longstanding theory that the Bitcoin market follows the dictates of US election cycles.—
Joe Wilkins,
Futurism,
3 June 2026
-
Prioritize Human Oversight And Algorithmic Transparency To balance rapid technological growth with core values, leaders should implement rigorous ethical guardrails that ensure AI integration serves the mission rather than just the dictates of high-tech donors.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Everything in mathematics therefore rests on the axioms, or basic building blocks, of the field.—
Manon Bischoff,
Scientific American,
26 May 2026
-
One may argue that a more fundamental theory (with more complete axioms) could decide the question, but the final theory should not have undecidable statements.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Without active enforcement, laws meant to protect people like Esther and the men on that boat remain meaningless.—
Nicole F. Roberts,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
-
The company has called out seven different potential federal laws, like the National Strategy for Combating Scams Act, the Strategic Task Force on Scam Prevention Act, and the AI Plan Act.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Maybe anyone planning long journeys should take those maxims as advice anyhow.—
Michael Teo Van Runkle,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Among other changes, the law requires health officials to inspect the Aurora facility at least every three months to ensure the detention center abides by safety standards related to food and water quality, confinement conditions and medical services.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
9 June 2026
-
The legislation clarifies the definition of data centers and allows the state Department of Environmental Quality to set the standards for data centers’ water usage, NC Newsline reported.—
Mary Ramsey
Updated June 8,
Charlotte Observer,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
On occasion, artists represent dogs gently breaking out of the comforting premises of good order.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
-
That’s not to say, however, that there’s not a touch of Hollywood-style glamor on the premises.—
Katie Schultz,
Architectural Digest,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dicta.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dicta. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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