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 China, where strong government policies dictate the vast scale and location of photovoltaic infrastructure, thousands of square kilometers of land are being transformed. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 20 Aug. 2026 Bass has opposed the law, arguing that Sacramento should not dictate how Los Angeles develops its neighborhoods. — Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 20 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

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
Imagine if an edict came down from above tomorrow that says college athletes must be treated as full-time W-2 employees.

— Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 19 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

Noun

As they’ve mercifully been decreased from six to four to three over the last 50 years, so have the prime directives.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 25 Aug. 2026
In 2024, Western intelligence officials started gathering evidence that gangs in Scandinavia were subcontracting local teen-agers to carry out Iranian directives.

— Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of directive

Browse Nearby Words

dicta

dictate

dictated

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Style

“Dictate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictate. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of dictate

verb

noun

Example Sentences

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