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."
Related Words
Relevance
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
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
-
That’s because your personal circumstance and finances (such as other sources of retirement income and your tax bracket) can be complex and so are the Social Security rules governing them.—
Jeanne Sahadi,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
-
Guzzetti said skydiving companies are governed by the same rules any private plane owner has to follow and not the more stringent rules that charter flight operators and airlines adhere to.—
Kristin M. Hall,
Los Angeles Times,
14 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
-
These laws apply to the jurisdiction where the bet is placed -- one of the reasons why each bettor’s mobile device must be GPS-located before a wager is placed.—
Nathan Goldman,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
-
In ordering Anthropic to obtain US approval for foreign nationals to use its Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick expanded the boundaries of laws governing transfers of sensitive technology to target the mere usage of cutting-edge AI models.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
19 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
-
The service Generations of LMR ownership have upheld high standards for property staff to deliver top-notch western hospitality.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 June 2026
-
Activities include vacation standards like pools and a beach club along with less typical offerings like horseback riding on the beach, beach shelling by golf cart, and the resort’s Hawk Walk.—
Beth Luberecki,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
While there's no presidential library on the premises, there is a branch of the Chicago Public Library.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
15 June 2026
-
Locking themselves into school, these restless teenagers roamed the premises unsupervised.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dicta.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dicta. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
