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 Anticipating a potential distraction, court marshals instructed reporters and members of the public to keep their eyes forward and be quiet regardless of who enters the courtroom. Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 13 June 2025 Our parents instruct us not to call people names, say rude things, or make fun of those with differences. Nicholas Dimarzio, New York Daily News, 13 June 2025 After the officer made contact with the teen, the teacher is seen moving closer to the student, touching him on the arms and instructing him to stand near a group of other students. Christy Gutowski, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2025 The judge dismissed the jurors for the day but instructed them to keep deliberating on that count Thursday. Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 11 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for instruct
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instruct
Verb
  • Her father's thrifty habits—rooted in his upbringing as a pastor’s son—also taught her the value of resourcefulness.
    Jasmine Browley, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025
  • While speaking with New York Magazine earlier this year, Alex said that his soon-to-be wife taught him what true love looked like.
    Bailey Richards, People.com, 14 June 2025
Verb
  • Different experiences inform a more complete understanding of the problem and potential solutions.
    Karlo Tanjuakio, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • His mother informs Mel and his sister that their father will be out on day release but urges them not to share their address with him.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 10 June 2025
Verb
  • In summer 2001, he was told to quickly pack his bags as the sheriff was coming to evict them.
    Jan Goldsmith, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 June 2025
  • That’s how successful telling stories about Jews is.
    Jamie Lang, Variety, 19 June 2025
Verb
  • Retail investors shouldn’t be seen as hurdles, but rather as opportunities for widespread adoption, and must be educated for sustainable innovation.
    Joash Lee, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • Healthcare providers and community leaders must also educate patients about vaccination benefits, particularly for vulnerable groups like pregnant women and those with high exposure.
    Dr. Jerome Adams, Time, 10 June 2025
Verb
  • Hollywood used the enormous Technicolor cameras — which required special color consultants to advise on cinematography, costumes, and sets — for its biggest productions, especially musicals, up until the mid-1950s, when the old Studio System started to crumble.
    Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 9 June 2025
  • Meanwhile, smartphone users are advised to watch for signs that their own phones may have been compromised.
    Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
Verb
  • The last time a president called in the National Guard without a governor’s cooperation was in 1965, when Lyndon B. Johnson ordered troops to protect civil rights demonstrators in Alabama.
    Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 9 June 2025
  • Helen's Tomato Pie Senior Digital News Editor Rebecca Baer heads to one of downtown Birmingham’s most popular restaurants, Helen, each summer to order their beloved Tomato Pie.
    Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 8 June 2025
Verb
  • Seyfried asked Brody of the next film, who said he hadn’t been contacted about the project but noted that his character died.
    Matt Donnelly, Variety, 9 June 2025
  • Giselle, a cheery woman in her forties from Yorkshire, England, asked.
    Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
Verb
  • The top five digital platforms (Google, Meta, ByteDance, Amazon and Alibaba) will command more than half of global ad revenue.
    Gladys Kong, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
  • The roughly two-week-long flight will be commanded by record-breaking former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, who is now Axiom's director of human spaceflight.
    Mike Wall, Space.com, 12 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Instruct.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instruct. Accessed 23 Jun. 2025.

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