as in controlling
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as in ordering
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 dictating
Paul Taylor, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
The 23-year-old forward was the one with the ball in his hands, dictating actions, making decisions.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025
CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
The Huskies thrive in structured offensive sets while applying pressure defensively across multiple positions, often dictating games with rebounding and interior toughness.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026
The Higgs is the cornerstone of our physics models, dictating the mass of all other particles.
—Mariangela Lisanti, Twin Cities, 27 Mar. 2026
Kalra’s bill would ban private equity firms and hedge funds from dictating case strategy after giving money to a law firm.
—Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
The Higgs is the cornerstone of our physics models, dictating the mass of all other particles.
—Mariangela Lisanti, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2026
In November 2025, the government introduced streaming service quotas dictating major players should apportion a part of their local revenues to original Australian stories.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2026
Świątek entered the match with a 23-2 record in the California desert since 2022 and had been rolling in this tournament, dictating matches with ease.
—Ava Wallace, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Oklahoma doesn't have a law dictating the age, but the state's Department of Humans Services does have some guidelines.
—Cheyenne Derksen, Oklahoman, 13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
And these players were initially signed to help Forest become a side capable of retaining more possession and dictating games.
—Paul Taylor, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
The 23-year-old forward was the one with the ball in his hands, dictating actions, making decisions.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025
Verb
Plaintiffs' lawyers say the latest policy also imposes unprecedented rules dictating when reporters can offer anonymity to sources.
—CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
The Huskies thrive in structured offensive sets while applying pressure defensively across multiple positions, often dictating games with rebounding and interior toughness.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026
The Higgs is the cornerstone of our physics models, dictating the mass of all other particles.
—Mariangela Lisanti, Twin Cities, 27 Mar. 2026
Kalra’s bill would ban private equity firms and hedge funds from dictating case strategy after giving money to a law firm.
—Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
The Higgs is the cornerstone of our physics models, dictating the mass of all other particles.
—Mariangela Lisanti, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2026
In November 2025, the government introduced streaming service quotas dictating major players should apportion a part of their local revenues to original Australian stories.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2026
Świątek entered the match with a 23-2 record in the California desert since 2022 and had been rolling in this tournament, dictating matches with ease.
—Ava Wallace, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Oklahoma doesn't have a law dictating the age, but the state's Department of Humans Services does have some guidelines.
—Cheyenne Derksen, Oklahoman, 13 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dictating
Adjective
-
The structure also includes equity from several French partners and an additional contribution from Carbios, which will leave the company as a minority, non-controlling shareholder.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
New Delhi on Tuesday relaxed rules for investments from countries sharing a land border with India, allowing automatic approval for non-controlling ownership of up to 10%, subject to compliance requirements.—
Shruti Srivastava,
Bloomberg,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This film is about the government ordering the elderly to relocate to distant housing colonies to maximize economic productivity.—
Adam Bell
April 2,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The case is a rare example of a judge ordering a person’s return to the United States after being deported, said Talia Inlender, deputy director of the Center for Immigration Law and Policy at the UCLA School of Law.—
Sophie Austin,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Raman had a commanding lead in a field of five major candidates, with 33% of voters supporting her, while Bass trailed at 17%, according to the poll by the Loyola Marymount University Center for the Study of Los Angeles.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2026
-
At 132 feet, the 40P is larger and more commanding, offering additional space and slightly flashier features.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The applicant also included a follow-up email explaining the scope of the work and requesting payment within 14 days.—
Darlin Tillery,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The company’s telephone number wasn’t connecting, and no one responded to an email requesting further information.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Tap the settings button at the bottom of the screen to enter any city, switch between imperial or metric units, or choose your preferred language.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Matsui was founded in 1726 in the hills overlooking the imperial palace and has been making small-batch sake by hand ever since.—
Jessica Kozuka,
Travel + Leisure,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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When caregivers there left a suicidal resident hanging by the neck from his room’s sprinkler system without giving the man immediate aid, Florida’s healthcare watchdog agency took the uncommon action of asking a judge to shut down Villa Rosa IV.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
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Trump is asking the justices to uphold his Day 1 executive order eliminating birthright citizenship under a novel interpretation of the 14th Amendment and requiring parents to prove their own legal status before citizenship is granted to their children.—
Peter Charalambous,
ABC News,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The rabbi is ornery, arrogant, sometimes cruel.—
Daniel Felsenthal,
Vulture,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Those leaders who ignore or flout the law aren’t merely unethical but fatally arrogant, putting their childish willfulness over the wisdom of generations.—
David Brooks,
The Atlantic,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Equally important is mandating ignition interlock devices for all offenders, not just repeat offenders, to help address flaws that allow individuals to operate vehicles even after prior infractions.—
Sean M. Cleary,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Mar. 2026
-
This is why then-President Richard Nixon signed an order mandating a 55 mph national speed limit in 1974, something Congress repealed only in 1995.—
Doug Turnbull,
AJC.com,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dictating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictating. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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