as in orders
to request the doing of by virtue of one's authority
dictated that the terms of surrender be negotiated by his senior staff
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in instructions
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of dictates
Ilan Berman,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
The moon will never completely free itself from Earth, though — physics dictates that the drift will stop after about 15 billion years.
—
Stefanie Waldek,
Space.com,
2 July 2026
Since 2023, Washington state law dictates that if a young person staying in a shelter seeks gender-affirming or reproductive care, the shelter does not have to notify their parents if there’s a fear of parental abuse or neglect.
—
Theresa Gaffney,
STAT,
30 June 2026
In cases involving government entities, the state dictates that liability is capped at $500,000 per single occurrence for bodily injury or death.
—
William Jones,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 June 2026
Casa said time dictates the volume of impact, whether from fluid or cooling.
—
Dorany Pineda,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2026
For cancer survivors, South Florida’s unforgiving heat and humidity can be an invisible threat that dictates how the day will go.
—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
18 June 2026
The state ultimately dictates how property value is assessed, but county officials try to project property tax revenue when creating the budget.
—
Emily Harter,
Kansas City Star,
18 June 2026
Spain’s system to distribute their squad numbers dictates that players with the most caps choose first among the available shirt numbers.
—
Pol Ballús,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
Scott Hocker,
TheWeek,
29 June 2026
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
Central Florida officials are still pushing back against the state’s pro-profiteering dictates, and defending local initiatives like urban growth boundaries.
—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 May 2026
As fake dating logic dictates, proximity (and, blessedly, only one bed) leads to very real feelings.
—
Erin La Rosa,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Now, agencies must weigh whether to adhere to federal dictates or comply with state transparency rules, with some directing records custodians and media spokespersons to acknowledge public records requests but not fulfill them unless ICE grants approval, records show.
—
Monique O. Madan,
Sun Sentinel,
11 May 2026
Its core principle is that when convenience dictates or necessity requires, a country must allow the people, goods and vessels of other nations to pass through its territory for a journey that begins and ends elsewhere.
—
Vivek Krishnamurthy,
The Conversation,
5 May 2026
Here’s what the rulebook dictates… and what Wellens actually said.
—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
5 May 2026
Verb
Logic therefore dictates that American policy needs to deny it every pathway for turning those aspirations into a weapon – not simply the most obvious one.
—
Ilan Berman,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
The moon will never completely free itself from Earth, though — physics dictates that the drift will stop after about 15 billion years.
—
Stefanie Waldek,
Space.com,
2 July 2026
Since 2023, Washington state law dictates that if a young person staying in a shelter seeks gender-affirming or reproductive care, the shelter does not have to notify their parents if there’s a fear of parental abuse or neglect.
—
Theresa Gaffney,
STAT,
30 June 2026
In cases involving government entities, the state dictates that liability is capped at $500,000 per single occurrence for bodily injury or death.
—
William Jones,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 June 2026
Casa said time dictates the volume of impact, whether from fluid or cooling.
—
Dorany Pineda,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2026
For cancer survivors, South Florida’s unforgiving heat and humidity can be an invisible threat that dictates how the day will go.
—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
18 June 2026
The state ultimately dictates how property value is assessed, but county officials try to project property tax revenue when creating the budget.
—
Emily Harter,
Kansas City Star,
18 June 2026
Spain’s system to distribute their squad numbers dictates that players with the most caps choose first among the available shirt numbers.
—
Pol Ballús,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
Noun
Tradition dictates, in its birthplace of the Piedmont region of Italy, that tonnato is served with thin pieces of veal.
—
Scott Hocker,
TheWeek,
29 June 2026
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
Central Florida officials are still pushing back against the state’s pro-profiteering dictates, and defending local initiatives like urban growth boundaries.
—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 May 2026
As fake dating logic dictates, proximity (and, blessedly, only one bed) leads to very real feelings.
—
Erin La Rosa,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Now, agencies must weigh whether to adhere to federal dictates or comply with state transparency rules, with some directing records custodians and media spokespersons to acknowledge public records requests but not fulfill them unless ICE grants approval, records show.
—
Monique O. Madan,
Sun Sentinel,
11 May 2026
Its core principle is that when convenience dictates or necessity requires, a country must allow the people, goods and vessels of other nations to pass through its territory for a journey that begins and ends elsewhere.
—
Vivek Krishnamurthy,
The Conversation,
5 May 2026
Here’s what the rulebook dictates… and what Wellens actually said.
—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
5 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dictates
Verb
-
Finally, unable to stand down the household guard on her own, Alicent confesses her scheme to Helaena, who orders the sentries on the ramparts to hold fire when Rhaenyra flies in on Syrax.
-
Agent Greer orders him to drop the weapon.
Noun
-
For large populations, use a product containing spinosad, bifenthrin or Bacillius thurgiensis, according to label instructions.
-
The Court also decided on Monday not to grant a retrial to a man convicted in a notorious decades-old cold case, reversing a decision that determined the jurors who convicted Pedro Hernandez of killing Etan Patz more than 40 years ago received improper instructions.
Verb
-
An order also could ask restaurants to serve water only when a customer requests it, according to the ordinance.
-
Sugar approaches him with an air of borderline ignorant confidence and requests a conversation with his boss.
Noun
-
Getty Images for Ascot Racecourse The highly agile Getty shooter Alan Crowhurst has done us a great favor by bringing concrete cloakroom evidence of the many social and administrative challenges that the (famous) Royal Ascot costume edicts require in order to be properly met.
-
The age of the Germanic male genius delivering edicts from on high has run its course.
Verb
-
Not every driver wants a truck that requires DIY installations or extreme customization to include basic features.
-
The article concludes that genuine empowerment requires substantial capital investment, not just goodwill, to build effective support systems.
Noun
-
Brennan argues the records are vital to a potential vindictive-prosecution defense, citing more than 100 Trump statements attacking him and directives to pursue cases without legal basis.
-
The attorneys general challenged several of its directives, including a provision that required state and local officials to collect proof of citizenship from vote-by-mail applicants.
Verb
-
Salisbury blamed delays in resolving cases in part on a 2021 law that mandates full trial boards in disputed misconduct complaints involving police officers, even for minor disciplinary infractions.
-
The agreement also mandates a legally enforceable whistleblower protection policy, a comprehensive Survivor Bill of Rights, anonymous online reporting, and a prohibition on confidentiality agreements that silence survivors.
Noun
-
Gunfire rang out into the vehicle until both men eventually ran away in opposite directions.
-
Mercury stations retrograde in Cancer in your 3rd House of Communication, making texts, directions, calls, errands, and local plans easier to misread.
Cite this Entry
“Dictates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictates. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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