1
as in teaching
to cause to acquire knowledge or skill in some field
spent his military career instructing young pilots
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
The lawsuit also seeks an order instructing OpenLoop to pay for lifetime credit monitoring and identity-theft insurance for all class members.
—
Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch, 20 Feb. 2026
One person’s voice is heard in the video instructing people which batch to light first.
—Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Within days of the President’s Inauguration, the agency’s staffers received the first of a series of directives instructing them to return to the office.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2026
Instead, Elordi’s Heathcliff collars and chains Oliver’s Isabella herself, instructing her to bark like a dog.
—Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 13 Feb. 2026
Parent Teacher Association officials in one of the wealthiest school districts in the country hosted a training session last month instructing families on how to respond to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 12 Feb. 2026
The third is a willingness to hold contradiction, designing exhibitions that present multiple interpretations without instructing visitors on which one to adopt.
—William Jones, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
Reed briefly delayed the picture, instructing teammates to step aside so that team photographer Rod Mar could snap shots of him alone with the trophy.
—Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2026
The same day, Secretary of State Cord Byrd, a DeSantis appointee, sent a letter to all 67 county supervisors of elections instructing them to implement candidate qualifying rules that only apply in a year in which the Legislature redraws congressional districts.
—Jeffrey Schweers, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026
Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch, 20 Feb. 2026
One person’s voice is heard in the video instructing people which batch to light first.
—Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Within days of the President’s Inauguration, the agency’s staffers received the first of a series of directives instructing them to return to the office.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2026
Instead, Elordi’s Heathcliff collars and chains Oliver’s Isabella herself, instructing her to bark like a dog.
—Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 13 Feb. 2026
Parent Teacher Association officials in one of the wealthiest school districts in the country hosted a training session last month instructing families on how to respond to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 12 Feb. 2026
The third is a willingness to hold contradiction, designing exhibitions that present multiple interpretations without instructing visitors on which one to adopt.
—William Jones, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
Reed briefly delayed the picture, instructing teammates to step aside so that team photographer Rod Mar could snap shots of him alone with the trophy.
—Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2026
The same day, Secretary of State Cord Byrd, a DeSantis appointee, sent a letter to all 67 county supervisors of elections instructing them to implement candidate qualifying rules that only apply in a year in which the Legislature redraws congressional districts.
—Jeffrey Schweers, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instructing
Verb
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He got nabbed after almost 14 years on the lam, some of them spent teaching scuba in Egypt.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Feb. 2026
-
In these tumultuous times, families are increasingly keeping their children at home, teaching them to carry identification as a shield against the uncertainties posed by ICE.—
Kirsten John Foy,
New York Daily News,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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So this is about informing, educating, and activating people.—
Jack Fink,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Success will be measured by how effective the office is in informing the public and policy leaders about the consequences of inaction on urgent priorities, from our schools to hospitals and the grid.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Morgan is passionate about telling stories that matter and bringing attention to underserved communities.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Here’s what allergists and immunologists are telling their own patients to use at home.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The bill would cost the Department of Licensing almost $100,000 for a study group to investigate ways to assist law enforcement in regulating e-bikes and educating users about the distinctions between the two types of bikes.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
20 Feb. 2026
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This shaped my care in educating seniors to take part in their health care.—
Jereè Paul,
The Orlando Sentinel,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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For example, media scrutiny and social media attention around an executive’s relationship with Epstein could cost a Wall Street bank a lucrative role advising on an IPO or a mega merger.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
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Duvall was a master of subtlety as an Irishman among Italians, rarely at the center of a scene, but often listening and advising in the background, an irreplaceable thread through the saga of the Corleone crime family.—
BOB THOMAS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Kim had previously taken responsibility for ordering soldiers to enact martial law.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
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The wholesaler will be rolling out custom cake and deli tray ordering through its mobile app.—
Cheryl V. Jackson,
IndyStar,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Now the place has once again returned to the market, this time asking the same exact price.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
18 Feb. 2026
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To encourage more housing, Pritzker is asking lawmakers to limit local governments’ authority over certain residential zoning areas so that multi-family and other structures can be built.—
Rick Pearson,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Holman built up a commanding 15-4 lead in the second period when Chur had to default out because of a knee injury.—
Kevin J. Farmer,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Feb. 2026
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Purdue took control quickly, using an 11-4 spurt to take a commanding 26-14 lead.—
Michael Marot,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Instructing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instructing. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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