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
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 28 Apr. 2026
The government should play a role in dictating the terms of how AI transforms the world.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
While backing legislation restricting AI use in hiring and education, Pritzker’s administration has implemented internal rules dictating how state employees and contractors may use the technology.
—Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
The years of Iran and Syria and Hezbollah dictating the future of Lebanon are no more.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2026
The wine style ultimately defines the ideal harvest window, dictating the balance of sugar, acidity and taste the winemaker is seeking.
—Maureen MacKey , Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 11 Apr. 2026
Wimberley was the better side for the last 15 minutes, dictating play and creating more chances in Sunnyvale's box.
—Colby Gordon, Austin American Statesman, 9 Apr. 2026
Proponents describe the measure as preventing states from dictating farming practices beyond their borders.
—John Cleveland, Boston Herald, 7 Apr. 2026
Plaintiffs' lawyers say the latest policy also imposes unprecedented rules dictating when reporters can offer anonymity to sources.
—CBS News, 30 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
This transit is shedding light on surface-level power and the unseen social currents secretly dictating your life.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 28 Apr. 2026
The government should play a role in dictating the terms of how AI transforms the world.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
While backing legislation restricting AI use in hiring and education, Pritzker’s administration has implemented internal rules dictating how state employees and contractors may use the technology.
—Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
The years of Iran and Syria and Hezbollah dictating the future of Lebanon are no more.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2026
The wine style ultimately defines the ideal harvest window, dictating the balance of sugar, acidity and taste the winemaker is seeking.
—Maureen MacKey , Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 11 Apr. 2026
Wimberley was the better side for the last 15 minutes, dictating play and creating more chances in Sunnyvale's box.
—Colby Gordon, Austin American Statesman, 9 Apr. 2026
Proponents describe the measure as preventing states from dictating farming practices beyond their borders.
—John Cleveland, Boston Herald, 7 Apr. 2026
Plaintiffs' lawyers say the latest policy also imposes unprecedented rules dictating when reporters can offer anonymity to sources.
—CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dictating
Adjective
-
According to those close to the family, József was extremely controlling and would often make terrifying threats.—
Maddie Garfinkle,
PEOPLE,
18 Apr. 2026
-
In girl friend groups, one of the girls is a bit more controlling, a bit more sassy, and a bit more precocious than the other ones.—
Max Gao,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Chaotic video obtained by FOX 35 shows local authorities ordering the teens to leave the area as police cars lined the roads.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Don’t leave without ordering the bread pudding for dessert, which is prepared in a deep fryer and is the perfect consistency.—
Anna Katherine Clemmons,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Few materials feel so commanding and permanent as concrete.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
29 Apr. 2026
-
On Monday night, the Magic stunned the Pistons in Central Florida to take a commanding 3-1 series lead.—
Austin Perry OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In addition to requesting repairs at the complex, tenants said they have been towed unfairly.—
Ginny Monk,
ProPublica,
27 Apr. 2026
-
That intrusion began with phishing calls to the company’s technology help desk by hackers who pretended to be employees requesting a reset of their authentication credentials.—
Jason Meisner,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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One particularly potent collage combines his portrait and fingerprint with the Japanese imperial chrysanthemum.—
Tessa Solomon,
ARTnews.com,
24 Apr. 2026
-
This was a rivalry, if not quite a war, and literature remained an important imperial front.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But a sport that has no problem changing longstanding rules to allegedly improve the game shouldn’t be shy about asking fans what’s needed to make going to the ballpark a more enjoyable experience.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
His is a method of ruthless practicality, of taking apart mathematics piece by piece and asking what is necessary.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The series has devolved into a hysteria that the young and arrogant Timberwolves feed on since that first quarter of Game 2.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
26 Apr. 2026
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However, many thought Tilson Thomas too brash and arrogant to lead an orchestra, and, around the same time, Tilson Thomas fell in with New York’s disco-hopping crowd.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In 1997, the Chemical Weapons Convention, a worldwide treaty banning the use of chemical weapons and mandating the destruction of existing chemical weapons, went into effect.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
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Overdue bills, lost jobs — and slow lawsuits Earlier this month, a federal judge in Northern California issued a preliminary injunction mandating that USCIS issue a decision by May 18 on applications from 31 citizens of Iran and one citizen of Sudan who are waiting on work authorizations.—
Ximena Bustillo,
NPR,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dictating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictating. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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