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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Recent Examples of dictated
The tasting menu here is dictated by produce availability at nearby farms and preserves from previous peak seasons, like pickled cherries in December.
—
Usa Today Network, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
The obligation to stick to the text may feel more apparent in later seasons, when the natural run time of a movie dictated how much of Rowling’s behemoth books could be adapted, but these early seasons are going to have to generate material in order to justify their own existence.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 10 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, Chef Arnaud Donckele invites diners into French gastronomy dictated by broths, creams, vinaigrettes and veloutés at Plénitude, awarded three Michelin stars within its first year.
—Kasia Dietz, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Feb. 2026
Conor lays out treats and decisions on transfers, captains and so on are dictated by whichever morsel Victor goes for first.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2026
Florida’s future shouldn’t be dictated by Wall Street hedge funds chasing returns.
—Sean Parks, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026
And they were buried together in a single pit, which was unusual for the time as Christian custom dictated that people, even if they have been executed, were normally buried separately, Aldred said.
—Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
With one investment, Rupert could establish a fourth national broadcast network and smash the liberal monopoly of ABC, CBS, and NBC, the gatekeepers that dictated what Americans watched.
—Gabriel Sherman, HollywoodReporter, 3 Feb. 2026
Amongst the servants, meanwhile, a hierarchy based on standing and rank also dictated living conditions like proximity to the family and who got to eat dinner first.
—Emma Banks, InStyle, 29 Jan. 2026
Usa Today Network, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
The obligation to stick to the text may feel more apparent in later seasons, when the natural run time of a movie dictated how much of Rowling’s behemoth books could be adapted, but these early seasons are going to have to generate material in order to justify their own existence.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 10 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, Chef Arnaud Donckele invites diners into French gastronomy dictated by broths, creams, vinaigrettes and veloutés at Plénitude, awarded three Michelin stars within its first year.
—Kasia Dietz, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Feb. 2026
Conor lays out treats and decisions on transfers, captains and so on are dictated by whichever morsel Victor goes for first.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2026
Florida’s future shouldn’t be dictated by Wall Street hedge funds chasing returns.
—Sean Parks, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026
And they were buried together in a single pit, which was unusual for the time as Christian custom dictated that people, even if they have been executed, were normally buried separately, Aldred said.
—Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
With one investment, Rupert could establish a fourth national broadcast network and smash the liberal monopoly of ABC, CBS, and NBC, the gatekeepers that dictated what Americans watched.
—Gabriel Sherman, HollywoodReporter, 3 Feb. 2026
Amongst the servants, meanwhile, a hierarchy based on standing and rank also dictated living conditions like proximity to the family and who got to eat dinner first.
—Emma Banks, InStyle, 29 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dictated
Verb
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He was also ordered to serve six months of home confinement and complete 500 hours of community service, FBI officials said.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
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At one point, Bad Bunny ordered a drink from Toñita, whose long-standing Caribbean Social Club is a landmark in Williamsburg.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The complaint, filed in federal court in Boston, alleges Harvard has failed for more than 10 months to provide individualized applicant data and other records requested by the DOJ as part of a compliance review under federal civil rights law.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Feb. 2026
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In 2015, Epstein requested legal advice in one email exchange.—
Steve Kopack,
NBC news,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Attending the Berlin Film Festival for new movie Rosebush Pruning, actor Callum Turner was asked by a journalist at the film’s press conference about online speculation linking him to the James Bond role.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
14 Feb. 2026
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Atwood had done what Mary had asked and poured everything into her daughter.—
Peter Warren,
Houston Chronicle,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dictated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictated. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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