dictated

verb

past tense of dictate
as in ordered
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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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 dictated The wave function evolves over time in a way that’s dictated by Schrödinger’s equation, named for Austrian physicist Erwin Schrödinger. — Philipp Strasberg, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026 El Niño, a shifting climate pattern dictated by ocean temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean, influences weather around the world. — Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026 Other leaders seem resigned to the fact that this 80-year global experiment in cooperative international relations has ceded the floor once again to the world order of coercion that dictated most of human history. — Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026 Pop culture in the pre-social internet, pre-streaming era was largely dictated top-down by industry gatekeepers, designed to appeal to as many people as possible. — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026 Food and drink Meals are all-inclusive, communal, and dictated by what the team pulls from the water and garden that morning. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Sep. 2026 Meteorological seasons are dictated by the Earth's temperatures. — Mariyam Muhammad, Cincinnati Enquirer, 22 Sep. 2026 Do not live a life that is dictated by algorithms to keep your attention. — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026 In the middle of it all will be Celebrini, whose play last season usually dictated if the Sharks won or lost. — Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 18 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dictated
  1. ordered
  2. requested
  3. asked
Verb
  • Still, questions have persisted about who ordered the interruptions to the satellite internet system that Kyiv has relied on for years to counter Moscow's attacks.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
  • SpaceX’s temporary throttling of the satellite service disrupted Ukrainian drone missions and air defenses, raising questions about who ordered the changes and straining ties with Washington.
    — Derek Gatopoulos, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of ordered
Verb
  • The Paris police requested the change because police and security resources are stretched thin due to mass protests, ongoing civil unrest, and France's first NFL game happening in the region, per multiple reports.
    — Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • In 2013, Pérez requested permission to explore a part of the park for iron oxide.
    — Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of requested
Verb
  • When asked if the ad was made with the campaign's knowledge or consent, Connie Luck, a spokesperson for Ramaswamy, released a lengthy statement Tuesday, but did not deny making the ad or denounce it.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The defense attorney who asked a Louisiana judge to ban pink from the courtroom in the Madison Brooks rape case was held in contempt Monday.
    — Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of asked

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Cite this Entry

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

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