instruct

Synonym Chooser

How is the word instruct different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of instruct are discipline, educate, school, teach, and train. While all these words mean "to cause to acquire knowledge or skill," instruct suggests methodical or formal teaching.

instructs raw recruits in military drill

Where would discipline be a reasonable alternative to instruct?

While in some cases nearly identical to instruct, discipline implies training in habits of order and precision.

a disciplined mind

When is educate a more appropriate choice than instruct?

The words educate and instruct are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, educate implies development of the mind.

more things than formal schooling serve to educate a person

When can school be used instead of instruct?

While the synonyms school and instruct are close in meaning, school implies training or disciplining especially in what is hard to master.

schooled the horse in five gaits

When is it sensible to use teach instead of instruct?

The meanings of teach and instruct largely overlap; however, teach applies to any manner of imparting information or skill so that others may learn.

taught us a lot about our planet

When might train be a better fit than instruct?

Although the words train and instruct have much in common, train stresses instruction and drill with a specific end in view.

trained foreign pilots to operate the new aircraft

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 instruct The Department of Health and Human Services has instructed all employees to use ChatGPT, according to recent reports from 404 Media and Gizmodo. Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025 He has been instructed not to contact the complainant. Ellise Shafer, Variety, 10 Sep. 2025 After another three pulled up, James was instructed to hop into the car that still had sufficient battery power remaining. Salvador Rodriguez,annie Palmer, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025 Walz’s order also instructed the Minnesota Department of Commerce to work with the Health Department to ensure that insurance companies operating in the state continue to provide affordable vaccines in various health care settings, including pharmacies. Forum News Service, Twin Cities, 9 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for instruct
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instruct
Verb
  • Interestingly, Lorraine has taught Judy to ward off her frightening visions by using a nursery rhyme, effectively teaching her to suppress her dark side.
    Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • But fun aside, Wilson and Ciara are hoping to teach their kids other vital life lessons.
    Anna Halkidis, Parents, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The algorithms are tuned with AI models informed by physics, allowing the sensors to adapt in real time without massive data training.
    Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Israel had to inform the US without jeopardizing the operation.
    Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In recent months, tariffs modestly contributed to the uptick in overall inflation, analysts previously told ABC News, but overall price increases owed largely to a rise in housing and food products with little connection to Trump’s levies.
    Max Zahn, ABC News, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Kaivan Shroff, a 2024 delegate for Harris, said the former vice president has the right to tell the story of her campaign, as does Biden, who has conducted a few interviews and speeches since leaving office.
    Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The game serves a dual purpose by educating users about the growing prevalence of synthetic media while providing valuable data to improve BitMind’s detection algorithms.
    Becca Bratcher, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
  • The school district, which educates about 23,000 students, is working toward making CPR a skill that every student learns at least once a year starting in fifth grade, said Superintendent Joe Harrington.
    Ciara McCarthy September 9, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Mendoza advised King to request twice as many; Mendoza had a plan for the others.
    ProPublica, ProPublica, 13 Sep. 2025
  • The players had two weeks off before the Euros, and Bronze was advised to rest.
    Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The next step can be ordering imaging of your liver like an ultrasound or CT to look for evidence of abnormalities like fat accumulation in your liver.
    Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
  • The organization, a private nonprofit governing and promoting school sports events in the state, is not a defendant in the suit, but was ordered to provide extensive information in a 23-point list of requests included in the subpoena.
    Samantha Riedel, Them., 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Ahead of Kirk's visit to Utah Valley University, some students started an online petition asking university administrators to stop him from coming.
    Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 11 Sep. 2025
  • When asked by a reporter for more details about how Trump planned to ban mail-in ballots, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the administration planned to work with Republicans on Capitol Hill and in state legislatures.
    Hailey Bullis, The Washington Examiner, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • One day, visitors would be able to ascend the tower and enjoy a commanding view of sprawling Barcelona.
    D. T. Max, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
  • That means that at exit those brands are likely to command stronger multiples.
    Gary Occhiogrosso, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Instruct.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instruct. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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