DICTATE Synonyms: 44 Similar and Opposite Words

dictate 1 of 2

verb

ˈdik-ˌtāt

Definition of dictate

as in to order

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

dictate

2 of 2

noun

ˈdik-ˌtāt

as in order

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 dictate

Verb

In fact, the Sonoran Desert sun helps dictate what’s sensible to do when and where. — Jessica Ritz, Travel + Leisure, 30 Aug. 2026 For a precision folding bike where millimeter-perfect alignment dictates how smoothly the hinges open and close, keeping the metal perfectly straight is a manufacturing advantage. — New Atlas, 29 Aug. 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 See All Example Sentences for dictate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dictate

Verb

Even though Vaughn's initial plea was not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect, and a mental status exam was ordered, no pretrial tests were done.

— Brett Barrouquere, Arkansas Online, 30 Aug. 2026
In a similar format to Family Feud, TopClubTen gives you ten top answers, ordered by amount, recency, value, and so on.

— Matt Gardner, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of order

Noun

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have uncovered a new processor attack that can bypass defenses in Intel and AMD chips by exploiting a security gap lasting only a handful of instructions.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026
John’s hacking skills prove useful, as does the T-800’s extensive firepower—although per John’s instructions, there are zero human fatalities.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of instruction

Verb

Sustained gunfire began past midnight at the premises of the Diori Hamani International Airport, which hosts a major military base, according to an AP witness who requested anonymity for safety reasons.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026
The group requested agreements among MPEA, arena operator Oak View Group, the Chicago Sky and the WNBA.

— Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of request

Noun

Countless speakers left the Pale of Settlement – the territory in Eastern Europe where Jews had been granted permission to live under an edict of the Russian czars.

— Ilan Stavans, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026
The president’s orders and edicts have no basis in reality, are nonsensical and are making our nation significantly less safe.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of edict

Noun

The technology was also tested against deceptive behaviour, an in a different scenario, fishing boats appeared to retreat while vessels from another direction accelerated toward the coastguard ship.

— Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
Despite years passing and their lives moving in different directions, the four come together and remember how beautiful and essential their friendship was and is.

— Kara Nesvig, Parents, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of direction

Verb

Matt Bevin has missed several court dates in the case and did not attend the May 29 hearing in person as required by the judge, appearing via Zoom instead.

— Lucas Aulbach, Louisville Courier Journal, 4 Sep. 2026
Doing the math, that leaves two other units with residents who will have a say since allowing the foundation to take over the entire space would require changing the co-op’s bylaws, Richards said.

— Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of require

Noun

Justice Department attorneys have argued that a restraining order would be inappropriate and that the legal challenge was premature, as federal agencies had yet to issue public guidance on how the president's directive would be implemented.

— Kristina Cooke, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
Nearly one-third of Americans vote by mail and election officials contend there isn’t enough time to revise their systems to comply with the new Postal Service directives.

— Lindsay Whitehurst, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of directive

Browse Nearby Words

dicta

dictate

dictated

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Dictate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictate. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of dictate

verb

noun

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