Synonym Chooser

How does the verb inform differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of inform are acquaint, apprise, and notify. While all these words mean "to make one aware of something," inform implies the imparting of knowledge especially of facts or occurrences.

informed us of the crisis

When could acquaint be used to replace inform?

The meanings of acquaint and inform largely overlap; however, acquaint lays stress on introducing to or familiarizing with.

acquaint yourself with the keyboard

When can apprise be used instead of inform?

The words apprise and inform are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, apprise implies communicating something of special interest or importance.

keep us apprised of the situation

Where would notify be a reasonable alternative to inform?

In some situations, the words notify and inform are roughly equivalent. However, notify implies sending notice of something requiring attention or demanding action.

notified the witness when to appear

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 inform The charges date back to August 2024, around 9:30 a.m., when deputies with the detention center’s Gang Intelligence Unit were informed that Randall had alluded to having contraband in his cell to someone over a jail call, the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office said. Matt Hubbard, Baltimore Sun, 3 July 2025 Family communication platforms: Tools that keep family members informed about portfolio status and care funding capacity. Patti Brennan, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025 Tribes say they were not informed of the land swap until a year later, raising concerns about the circumvention of federal review processes designed to protect Indigenous lands. Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 3 July 2025 Officials pledged to inform the public through official channels as the situation evolves. Amanda Castro hannah Parry shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for inform
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inform
Verb
  • Sucked underground by an explosive whirlwind, DK must team up with a talking mineral named Odd Rock to prevent VoidCo from reaching the planet’s core, where legend says something has the power to grant wishes.
    Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 1 July 2025
  • Through it all, Thune kept talking to Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, a moderate Mainer who blanched at the bill’s Medicaid cuts.
    Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • The percentage tells the public how much of the fire perimeter is believed to not go beyond the control lines.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2025
  • The Dolphins were taking Fitzpatrick, Grier told owner Steve Ross, then head coach Adam Gase and team czar Mike Tannenbaum.
    Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • The Context Diogo Jose Teixeira da Silva, who went by Diogo Jota, and his brother André died on Thursday while driving from Spain to England after a doctor advised them not to fly after Jota received minor lung surgery.
    Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 July 2025
  • The Consumer Product Safety Commission advises that children do not use fireworks, including sparklers.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 5 July 2025
Verb
  • Before doing anything else, inspect the inside of the grill for any grease build-up, Carothers instructs.
    Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 June 2025
  • Under modern judicial deference doctrines, courts have been instructed not to interpret the law, but to accept how agencies interpret it.
    Jon Riches, Oc Register, 27 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Inform.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inform. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on inform

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