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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dictates
Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
Nature dictates everything at this CO2-neutral A-list hideaway in the Italian Dolomites.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
That split dictates the size of player salaries, which both sides agree need to significantly rise.
—Alex Sherman,contessa Brewer, CNBC, 9 Jan. 2026
The policy also dictates that patients at any of the UMMS healthcare facilities who have COVID-19 symptoms or respiratory symptoms, like coughing and sneezing, must wear a mask along with any visitors who accompany that patient.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026
Even with my winter boots and sturdy soles, caution dictates a short stride, a shuffling gait end eyes riveted to the slippery ground.
—Thomas Cangelosi, Hartford Courant, 4 Jan. 2026
Officers euthanized two mountain lions in the area, as CPW policy dictates that wildlife that attacks humans must be euthanized.
—Mason Leath, ABC News, 2 Jan. 2026
Tradition dictates that women are not allowed to enter the dohyō (wrestling ring).
—Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Jan. 2026
Conventional wisdom dictates that a performer hoping to be taken seriously by his peers and the public has to take himself seriously; think sober post-screening talkbacks, not silly bits with blimps.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 22 Dec. 2025
Literary Hub, 23 Dec. 2025
Russia is too big compared with Ukraine, and its willingness to fight on dictates that ending the war will require Ukraine to make concessions.
—Thomas Friedman, Mercury News, 5 Dec. 2025
However, the dictates of a person's conscience, religion, or personal philosophy cannot justify or excuse the disobedience of an otherwise lawful order.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 22 Nov. 2025
Now, suddenly, some of his dictates are falling flat with fellow Republicans.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 20 Nov. 2025
Smaller countries in the region, especially in Southeast Asia, would have to submit to Beijing’s dictates.
—Eyck Freymann, Time, 4 Nov. 2025
An invisible line between Austin and San Antonio dictates where childcare aid can be used.
—Jayme Fraser, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
Our federal government is coercing institutions to follow its dictates on student admissions, curriculum and programs.
—George R. Boggs, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Oct. 2025
At first, the doctor’s sympathies would be with the family, who seemed helpless given their lack of autonomy and the dictates of their circumstances.
—Ayşegül Savaş, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2025
Verb
The sun in Capricorn dictates a show that speaks to the need for order in times of chaos, as well as the hierarchy of the mob family and the rules required to be a member.
—Noun
Magritte is an artist who comes with a host of associated personal symbols—all those apples, bowler hats, mirrors, and trains—which interact according to the dictates of dream logic.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for dictates
Verb
-
With his gun pointed at McNealy, Heisler orders him to show his hands and not reach for anything.—
-
The agent then orders Parias to turn off his vehicle.—
Noun
-
The company also announced a partnership with Google DeepMind to integrate Gemini Robotics AI, enabling Atlas to reason through complex instructions and operate in unstructured environments.—
-
At first, doctors sent them home from the hospital with instructions to monitor her symptoms.—
Verb
-
Otto’s behavior is so odd that a station manager at one of his stops witnesses his unease and requests a replacement.—
-
To enhance data privacy, Claude requests only the categories of information most likely to be relevant to a question—such as medications, allergies, recent lab reports, or doctor notes—rather than pulling an entire medical record.—
Noun
-
Williams agreed that the attempt did not make sense and explained that his thoughts were informed by intoxication and competing internal edicts from a devil and angel.—
-
Saudi Arabia appears to be slowly and quietly rolling back its near-blanket bans on alcohol consumption, signaling perhaps another instance of the Kingdom’s strict religious edicts yielding to its push for international appeal.—
Verb
-
The board’s unanimous vote came weeks after pension-plan actuaries confirmed the program would be cost-neutral, as state law requires.—
-
The Act requires the violence or abuse to have been a ‘substantial contributing factor’ in the later criminal conduct.—
Noun
-
The White House itself has directly issued at least thirty-six orders, decrees, and directives targeting at least a hundred specific individuals and entities with punitive actions.—
-
Among the proclamation's directives was a report from federal officials that included recommendations for additional actions necessary to take operational control of the southern border, including whether to invoke the Insurrection Act.—
Verb
-
The investigations are required by AB 1506, which mandates a state investigation of any shooting by a law enforcement officer that kills a person who was not carrying a deadly weapon.—
-
That city ordinance, along with state law, also mandates yearly increases in an effort to keep up with the increasing cost of living.—
Noun
-
Just like a star, Dallas is sprawling out in different directions.—
-
The rural highway was closed in both directions while the crash was investigated and the wreckage cleared.—
Cite this Entry
“Dictates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictates. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
