Synonyms for

Dictate

Verb / dɪˈkteɪt / / ˈdɪˌkteɪt / Another word for dictate — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

to give orders or commands

Synonyms & similar words

order prescribe command direct order prescribe require mandate enjoin instruct tell decree utter announce proclaim declare pronounce ordain enact establish impose levy

Synonyms by register

Formal

prescribe stipulate ordain decree

Informal

tell order lay down call the shots

Literary

command enjoin enforce

Antonyms

obey follow submit yield acquiesce comply

Common collocations

  • dictate terms
  • dictate policy
  • dictate the pace
  • dictate the outcome
  • dictate a letter
  • dictate to someone
  • dictate the rules

Word family

noun dictation
verb dictate
adjective dictatorial

Usage note

While 'dictate' can mean to speak something to be written down, it is more commonly used to mean to command or control. Be mindful of the context to avoid confusion.

Example sentences

  1. The teacher will dictate the spelling words for us to write.
  2. The coach will dictate the plays for the team to follow.
  3. The CEO will dictate the company's strategy for the next year.
  4. The king will dictate the laws for his kingdom to follow.
  5. The conductor will dictate the tempo for the orchestra to play.

Quotes

  • I do not dictate to a Premier League manager how he manages his team.
  • It is not the ink, but the man behind the pen that dictates history.
  • The circumstances of the world are so variable that an irrevocable purpose or opinion is almost synonymous with a foolish one

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