dictating

VERB

command; give instructions

Synonyms

STRONGEST

govern guide impose lay down prescribe

STRONG

bid bulldoze charge control decree direct enjoin instruct lead manage ordain order pronounce regiment rule set

WEAK

call the play call the shots call the tune lay down the law put foot down read the riot act take the reins walk heavy

Antonyms

STRONG

disallow mismanage

WEAK

ask implore request

VERB

read out for the record

Synonyms

STRONGEST

speak

STRONG

compose deliver emit formulate interview orate say talk transmit utter verbalize

WEAK

draft correspondence give account give forth prepare draft

Antonyms

STRONG

conceal refrain withhold

WEAK

ask implore request

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“People seem to be obsessed with now dictating what I’ll do and when?!”

From Salon • Jun. 25, 2026

In 1962, Fifa issued eligibility criteria, dictating that players must have citizenship of the country they wished to play for, and could no longer represent more than one nation over their career.

From BBC • Jun. 23, 2026

And of course, the irony is that these people who are notoriously bad at communicating themselves are the ones who are dictating how we in fact communicate to each other.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 2026

"If the sheep are dictating safety and the wolves are not, then there's no purpose," Brockman said Musk allegedly told employees at the time.

From Barron's • May 5, 2026

I told the chief that these foreign politicians were not dictating our policy, but merely saying that they did not understand it.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela