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
But this year, candidates received a yellow notice instructing them to only file their disclosures online with the state, and not with any other entity, leading seven candidates, including the four now running independently, to incorrectly file their financial documents.
—
Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 7 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
Humans have long been able to teach robots how to do individual tasks, but instructing them on these more sophisticated jobs has been an elusive goal, despite billions of dollars invested into robotics.
—Katia Riddle, NPR, 24 Apr. 2026
On March 4, police say classroom-security footage showed Rodriguez instructing the boy and two other students to sit and face her.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2026
Audio of the exchange captures the controller urgently instructing the smaller aircraft, identified as Skylab 25, to stop before directing the UPS jet to go around.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 17 Apr. 2026
The council unanimously approved three separate but related motions instructing staff to produce data on various elements of Measure ULA.
—City News Service, Daily News, 14 Apr. 2026
Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 7 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
Humans have long been able to teach robots how to do individual tasks, but instructing them on these more sophisticated jobs has been an elusive goal, despite billions of dollars invested into robotics.
—Katia Riddle, NPR, 24 Apr. 2026
On March 4, police say classroom-security footage showed Rodriguez instructing the boy and two other students to sit and face her.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2026
Audio of the exchange captures the controller urgently instructing the smaller aircraft, identified as Skylab 25, to stop before directing the UPS jet to go around.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 17 Apr. 2026
The council unanimously approved three separate but related motions instructing staff to produce data on various elements of Measure ULA.
—City News Service, Daily News, 14 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instructing
Verb
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Miller has coached at Mitty since 1986 and served as head coach since 1988, in addition to teaching AP World History.—
Glenn Reeves,
Mercury News,
10 May 2026
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The ship is massive - 530 feet, nine decks - and it's being prepped for its annual summer teaching cruise.—
Steve Kastenbaum,
NPR,
9 May 2026
Verb
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The passenger responded to an email from the ship’s operator informing passengers of the health event and checked himself in at a hospital.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
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In addition to informing policymakers and expanding research resources to find out more about the genesis of these events, scientists say more public awareness that these events are even happening is key.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Like Flores and Natal, Kaik found that the company, York Service & Towing, would only take cash, telling her that sometimes, people would pay with a credit card then cancel the card before payment went through.—
Ginny Monk,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
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Shortly after telling her to contact security, Alvarez arrived upstairs.—
Alex Gurley,
PEOPLE,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Thoreau Alliance, an organization dedicated to educating about his life and legacy, is international.—
Robert M. Thorson,
The Conversation,
8 May 2026
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James Romm Translates Classical Greek Poetry In the 5th century AD, a father in the Balkan city of Stobi was educating his son.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 May 2026
Verb
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More recently, the firm built a notable business in women’s sports, advising on multiple rounds of NWSL expansion.—
Eben Novy-Williams,
Variety,
5 May 2026
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After 60 years as CEO of the conglomerate that owns everything from Dairy Queen to insurer Geico, Warren Buffett handed over the reins to Abel but is advising him and still serving as chairman.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
4 May 2026
Verb
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Unlike dining out or ordering takeout, the etiquette around tipping for flower delivery isn’t always clear-cut.—
Cori Sears,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 May 2026
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The company's owner offered help, ordering staff to ship replacements from ES Windows' manufacturing complex in Barranquilla, Colombia.—
Larry Seward,
CBS News,
4 May 2026
Verb
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This is the kind of invention that is going to become increasingly important in an economy that is asking more of the physical world.—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
6 May 2026
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There’s something deeply American about the constant push between frustration and hope, between asking what the hell is going on and still believing there's something worth fighting for.—
Time,
Time,
6 May 2026
Verb
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The Liberty opened its 30th season with a commanding 106-75 win over the Connecticut Sun.—
Ralphie Aversa,
USA Today,
9 May 2026
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Matt McCarty has a commanding lead over the field at minus-8, with six others tied at minus-5.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Instructing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instructing. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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