1
as in teaching
to cause to acquire knowledge or skill in some field
spent his military career instructing young pilots
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in informing
to give information to
instructed everyone in the use of the new telephone system
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in telling
to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority
the proctors instructed everyone to put their pencils down and hand in their tests
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of instructing
Cosyland is instructing consumers to contact the company for repair parts, which include protective nets, stabilizing feet and installation instructions.
—
Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
On Thursday, Hoskin’s office sent out a news release instructing local election authorities across the state to continue election preparation activities, like candidate filing and ballot programming, based on the congressional districts established under the gerrymandered map.
—Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 15 May 2026
The lawsuit also alleges Elango attempted to hide the incidents by deleting video footage and instructing a staff member to do the same.
—Lina Ruiz
may 14, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026
Trixie plays a dance teacher instructing four students in pointe technique at the barre.
—Caroline Lillian Schopp, Artforum, 13 May 2026
The union voted to support the Pullman strike, instructing its members not to handle any trains containing Pullman cars.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
According to a live feed from The New York Times, within minutes of the third day starting, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers had to reproach Musk, instructing him to stop being sarcastic and evasive.
—Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 30 Apr. 2026
Also, the researchers sometimes caught the Claudes trying to cheat by simply instructing the strong model directly rather than figuring out ways to get the weak teacher to supervise the strong model.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2026
City workers are also instructing residents on how to flush household plumbing prior to restoring water service, officials said.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 26 Apr. 2026
Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
On Thursday, Hoskin’s office sent out a news release instructing local election authorities across the state to continue election preparation activities, like candidate filing and ballot programming, based on the congressional districts established under the gerrymandered map.
—Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 15 May 2026
The lawsuit also alleges Elango attempted to hide the incidents by deleting video footage and instructing a staff member to do the same.
—Lina Ruiz
may 14, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026
Trixie plays a dance teacher instructing four students in pointe technique at the barre.
—Caroline Lillian Schopp, Artforum, 13 May 2026
The union voted to support the Pullman strike, instructing its members not to handle any trains containing Pullman cars.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
According to a live feed from The New York Times, within minutes of the third day starting, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers had to reproach Musk, instructing him to stop being sarcastic and evasive.
—Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 30 Apr. 2026
Also, the researchers sometimes caught the Claudes trying to cheat by simply instructing the strong model directly rather than figuring out ways to get the weak teacher to supervise the strong model.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2026
City workers are also instructing residents on how to flush household plumbing prior to restoring water service, officials said.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 26 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instructing
Verb
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His father, Terry, spent 22 years working in the pharmaceutical industry, and now works in medicinal chemistry, teaching as an assistant professor of biochemistry at Wake Forest on the side.—
Gabby Herzig,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
-
Inside a small lab at Emory University's Math & Science Center, physicist Justin Burton spends his days teaching and asking some very big questions.—
Brian Unger,
CBS News,
15 May 2026
Verb
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There’s a friendly reception area with a giant chalkboard informing guests of local events, ranging from in-house parties to full moon nights at the Acropolis and big name gigs by the touring artists.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 May 2026
-
In 1959, Levi was shocked to receive a letter informing him that a German publisher by the name of Fischer had just acquired the translation rights to If This Is a Man.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
While in the clinic, behind the gee-wizardry of the modern diagnostics and next-generation medications, the practice of endocrinology remains rooted in one person telling their story and the other trying to interpret it.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
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Her boyfriend, who had cuts to his arms and face, called 911, telling dispatch that someone had dropped a rock from the overpass.—
Nick Ferraro,
Twin Cities,
19 May 2026
Verb
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Rather than holding a mass rally, the Saturday before primary day could be better spent phone banking, canvassing and educating voters about what's happened, Hardy added.—
Sarah Clifton,
USA Today,
16 May 2026
-
McCaskill brought action items to the meeting Wednesday, including a packet educating attendees on the Voting Rights Act and a county resolution aiming to support stronger voting right protections, encourage public hearings and discussion, urge federal action and commit to voter outreach.—
Addison Wright,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Officials in Excelsior, Minnesota, are advising residents to boil their water after a loss of pressure caused possible contamination.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
13 May 2026
-
Ezelle, however, downplays his role in advising DBGI.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
12 May 2026
Verb
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Rebecca Cliffe of the Sloth Conservation Foundation and Sam Trull of the Sloth Institute, organizations based in Costa Rica, arrived in Central Florida last week to speak with state and local authorities and zoo officials about the matter, culminating in FWC ordering the temporary suspension.—
Cristóbal Reyes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 May 2026
-
In September 1960, Fidel Castro’s government published a decree ordering the confiscation of all of it without compensation.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Denver City Council is asking similar questions.—
Chierstin Roth,
CBS News,
13 May 2026
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Then, last year, at a July meeting of the district’s school board, Junez and a handful of other students came before district leadership, once again asking them to institute a boys volleyball team.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
13 May 2026
Verb
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But the Knicks are now commanding favorites in the East, having swept the 76ers in the conference semis.—
Alex Kirshner,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
-
And the end came well before midnight, with goals by Mitch Marner and Brett Howden in the first 8½ minutes giving Vegas a commanding lead before many in the late-arriving weeknight crowd had made it to their seats at the Honda Center.—
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Instructing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instructing. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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