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school

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verb

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of school are discipline, educate, instruct, teach, and train. While all these words mean "to cause to acquire knowledge or skill," school implies training or disciplining especially in what is hard to master.

schooled the horse in five gaits

When is discipline a more appropriate choice than school?

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

a disciplined mind

In what contexts can educate take the place of school?

While the synonyms educate and school are close in meaning, educate implies development of the mind.

more things than formal schooling serve to educate a person

When might instruct be a better fit than school?

The synonyms instruct and school are sometimes interchangeable, but instruct suggests methodical or formal teaching.

instructs raw recruits in military drill

When is it sensible to use teach instead of school?

In some situations, the words teach and school are roughly equivalent. However, teach applies to any manner of imparting information or skill so that others may learn.

taught us a lot about our planet

When can train be used instead of school?

The words train and school can be used in similar contexts, but 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 school
Noun
Now, for the first time, the school is confronting the risks of sourcing half of its operating budget from a single entity. Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 16 Oct. 2025 But in the lead-up to this school year, these developments led experts to warn that Covid cases may start ramping up again. Eli Cahan, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
Seven months later, after the future Hall of Famer took the Jets to school with four touchdown passes in a 34-32 Pittsburgh Steelers victory, Thomas had a good read on exactly what Rodgers was feeling. Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025 The film acknowledges but rises above that violence as Cervantes’ coming of age tale, as a literary genius and one of history’s greatest humanists, schooled by a disciple of Erasmus. John Hopewell, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for school
Recent Examples of Synonyms for school
Noun
  • Roufus began training in martial arts at the age of 4, according to the academy's website.
    Cleo Krejci, jsonline.com, 18 Oct. 2025
  • While so many arts institutions have struggled to survive, her academy continues to thrive and pour into young dancers year after year.
    Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Michael Meredith, an avid duck hunter, will teach basic calling techniques.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Becoming a psychologist taught me a great deal about healing, forgiveness and grace – and how all of that must start with ourselves.
    Angela Kenzslowe, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • After the service, the King is expected to attend a reception at the Pontifical Beda College, a seminary which trains priests from across the Commonwealth, while Camilla will meet six Catholic Sisters from the International Union of Superiors General.
    Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
  • The seminary also sold the Carroll Park Apartments student housing to the city.
    Rick Mauch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Tedesco learned about Reparation Generation last year through a church group and further got involved by hosting home meetings this year to educate others about the organization's work.
    Nushrat Rahman, Freep.com, 14 Oct. 2025
  • SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.
    Tara Haelle, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“School.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/school. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on school

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