dictate 1 of 2

verb

ˈdik-ˌtāt How to pronounce dictate (audio)
Definition of dictatenext
as in to order
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

dictate

2 of 2

noun

ˈdik-ˌtāt How to pronounce dictate (audio)
as in order
a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned a starchily worded dictate from on high concerning the company's dress code

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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 dictate
Verb
Chalking, per university rules that dictate when, where and how students can protest, is not allowed on walls and vertical surfaces. — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 25 Oct. 2026 But Cavallari wasn't about to let her bitter family feud dictate her children's relationship with their grandfather. — Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Noun
The individual sensibilities of people who directed them were subordinated to dictates of the franchise. — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026 But rather than riding on the top of the mikoshi, or portable Shinto shrine, as tradition dictates, the heavily pregnant Kawata walked behind it. — Reuters, NBC news, 20 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for dictate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dictate
  1. order
  2. instruction
  3. request
  4. edict
  5. ask
  6. direction
  7. require
  8. directive
Verb
  • In August 2022, Garza was ruled mentally incompetent to stand trial and ordered to be jailed until a bed in a state mental health treatment facility was available.
    — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
  • An Eagle man charged with animal cruelty in the shooting deaths of two caged cats was ordered to serve a total of 14 days in jail after accepting a plea deal in August, according to court records.
    — Harllie Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of order
Noun
  • Believing her daughter’s life was on the line, Del Mastro followed the caller’s instructions for five hours.
    — Muskaan Arshad, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Over seven full-lengths, Butler has created a multi-volume instruction manual for transcendence.
    — Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of instruction
Verb
  • With Election Day now less than two weeks away, more than 2 million absentee ballots have been requested across Michigan.
    — Elaine Rojas-Castillo, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Weiss-Wolf’s advice emphasizes understanding your options and advocating for better health care, while recognizing that disclosing symptoms or requesting an accommodation can carry risks.
    — Jo Ann Liguori, Flow Space, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of request
Noun
  • Eventually, an edict from the top came that existing attorneys should not anticipate additions to the court teams, according to one source.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026
  • In the years that followed, predatory land purchases, restrictive edicts, and forced displacement further diminished their ranks.
    — Jason Motlagh, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of edict
Verb
  • The person asked a mutual contact to warn Rosman, according to three people familiar with that exchange.
    — Ben Smith, semafor.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Attendees asked engineers to provide preliminary cost estimates for street lighting running from the stadium connection north to Swepco Road.
    — Randy Moll, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of ask
Noun
  • Brennan said his letter was based on direction offered by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in November.
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Reversing the voltage’s polarity reversed the direction of rotation.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of direction
Verb
  • Unmanned vessels could potentially carry additional missile capacity without requiring the same onboard crew arrangements as conventional warships.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Florida law requires that a judge be admitted to the Florida Bar for at least five years before taking office (with no requirement for actual experience, just the fact of possessing a law license).
    — Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of require
Noun
  • State agencies like the Florida Highway Patrol have aggressively pursued ICE directives.
    — Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Netanyahu and his military chief of staff have had a confrontation over a political directive related to Iran shortly before Israel’s close election, a local broadcaster reported Sunday night.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of directive

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dictate
dictated
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Cite this Entry

“Dictate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictate. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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