as in ordered
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 dictated
The rhythm of the first 40 minutes of the game was almost entirely dictated by special teams, with four power plays a side.
—
Arpon Basu, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Oleh had moved from Ukraine to Germany, in part, to give his son, who was then seventeen, a life that wasn’t dictated by Russia’s war.
—Lizzie Johnson, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026
Logic dictated that trading back to accumulate more picks was a possibility if not a probability.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026
Which of the three will be addressed at 43, with Miami’s only remaining top-70 pick, likely will be dictated in part by the decisions made by the 11 teams that pick before them tonight.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
Most kids did farm chores, and planting and harvest seasons dictated the schedule of the school year.
—Shelley Mitchell, The Conversation, 23 Apr. 2026
Paolo Banchero set the tone early with an aggressive, assertive first half that dictated the flow of the game.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Apr. 2026
In today’s game, many in-game decisions aren’t even dictated by the manager, though it’s generally believed that Mendoza has a fair amount of autonomy in the dugout.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2026
For Flynn and her husband, Jim, the improvement has meant freedom from a strict medication schedule that once dictated their daily lives.
—Ted Scouten, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026
Arpon Basu, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Oleh had moved from Ukraine to Germany, in part, to give his son, who was then seventeen, a life that wasn’t dictated by Russia’s war.
—Lizzie Johnson, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026
Logic dictated that trading back to accumulate more picks was a possibility if not a probability.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026
Which of the three will be addressed at 43, with Miami’s only remaining top-70 pick, likely will be dictated in part by the decisions made by the 11 teams that pick before them tonight.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
Most kids did farm chores, and planting and harvest seasons dictated the schedule of the school year.
—Shelley Mitchell, The Conversation, 23 Apr. 2026
Paolo Banchero set the tone early with an aggressive, assertive first half that dictated the flow of the game.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Apr. 2026
In today’s game, many in-game decisions aren’t even dictated by the manager, though it’s generally believed that Mendoza has a fair amount of autonomy in the dugout.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2026
For Flynn and her husband, Jim, the improvement has meant freedom from a strict medication schedule that once dictated their daily lives.
—Ted Scouten, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dictated
Verb
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In March 2026, a judge ordered the camp to preserve damaged areas of the camp's grounds as evidence in the lawsuits filed by the families of the victims.—
Matthew Ablon,
CBS News,
27 Apr. 2026
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Talley was ordered to be detained on Monday during a court hearing and was remanded to the Cook County Department of Corrections.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Noticias Telemundo requested comment on the case by phone and email from the Cuban government through its International Press Center, but did not receive a response.—
Jorge Carrasco,
NBC news,
1 May 2026
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Both their maternal grandparents, Fátima Valencia and Narciso Mucutuy, and Ranoque, Tien and Cristin's father, have requested to have legal custody.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
Verb
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Fire officials also asked people in the El Corazon Senior Center and surrounding communities to shelter in place — remain indoors, close windows and doors.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
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When asked about what makes Dallas a literary city, Evans doesn't have to think too long.—
Kat Chen,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dictated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictated. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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