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
Ford alleges the firm intentionally slowed down its clients’ cases to drive up their billable hours, instructing drivers not to communicate with Ford and pushing them toward filing a lawsuit.
—
Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
Japanese antitrust officials periodically make high-profile raids to protect fair competition, such as one on Google, instructing it to fix its advertising search restrictions allegedly affecting Yahoo in the country.
—ABC News, 17 June 2026
Earlier this month, CBS News reported that lawyers for the center were instructing staff to immediately begin the process of switching the name of the facility back to its original title.
—Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 12 June 2026
In January, a DHS official sent a memo to some federal immigration agents temporarily assigned to Minneapolis instructing them to collect personal information about protesters and agitators, including license plates, identifications and images, according to CNN reporting.
—Jude Joffe-Block, NPR, 10 June 2026
Six years after its emergence, a social media challenge instructing teens to take dangerous levels of Benadryl and other antihistamines is still circulating and Connecticut officials are warning parents after three children in the state have died.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 10 June 2026
The scammers posed not only as the son but also as police, instructing the mother to quickly withdraw $15,000 and hand it to a courier already on the way.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2026
The governor issued an executive order instructing the state agency overseeing a program that issues tax incentives for data centers to pause the program beginning July 1.
—Jack O'Connor, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2026
Arsenal’s players have naturally been fully focused on delivering success this season, with some even instructing their agents not to discuss their future until the season was complete.
—James McNicholas, New York Times, 2 June 2026
Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
Japanese antitrust officials periodically make high-profile raids to protect fair competition, such as one on Google, instructing it to fix its advertising search restrictions allegedly affecting Yahoo in the country.
—ABC News, 17 June 2026
Earlier this month, CBS News reported that lawyers for the center were instructing staff to immediately begin the process of switching the name of the facility back to its original title.
—Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 12 June 2026
In January, a DHS official sent a memo to some federal immigration agents temporarily assigned to Minneapolis instructing them to collect personal information about protesters and agitators, including license plates, identifications and images, according to CNN reporting.
—Jude Joffe-Block, NPR, 10 June 2026
Six years after its emergence, a social media challenge instructing teens to take dangerous levels of Benadryl and other antihistamines is still circulating and Connecticut officials are warning parents after three children in the state have died.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 10 June 2026
The scammers posed not only as the son but also as police, instructing the mother to quickly withdraw $15,000 and hand it to a courier already on the way.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2026
The governor issued an executive order instructing the state agency overseeing a program that issues tax incentives for data centers to pause the program beginning July 1.
—Jack O'Connor, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2026
Arsenal’s players have naturally been fully focused on delivering success this season, with some even instructing their agents not to discuss their future until the season was complete.
—James McNicholas, New York Times, 2 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instructing
Verb
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Today, Buffalo Soldiers motorcycle groups nationwide focus on teaching Black military history, using their motorcycles to represent the cavalry.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
20 June 2026
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For the first time in history, humanity is not merely teaching machines our language.—
Sreedhar Potarazu,
Baltimore Sun,
20 June 2026
Verb
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Kochs also lauded that the residency signals a shift in guest behavior that is informing how Claridge’s — and parent group Maybourne — think about wellness as a business.—
Tianwei Zhang,
Footwear News,
17 June 2026
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The Greenlandic government scrambled to reassure locals, informing them that Danish and other European troops would now be a permanent fixture on the island.—
Ben Taub,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
Verb
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As well as telling her story, the three-part docuseries will follow the singer’s campaign for media regulation.—
K.J. Yossman,
Variety,
23 June 2026
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That is according to airspace and maritime warning notices telling pilots and sailors to steer clear of the Starfall splashdown zone.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
23 June 2026
Verb
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After 99 years of educating students in Camden, New Jersey, Holy Name School has officially closed its doors.—
Madeleine Wright,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
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Consulting firms devote substantial resources to educating future managers.—
Joseph Andrew,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
Verb
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The state agency is advising one right lane is still closed.—
Caroline Silva,
AJC.com,
16 June 2026
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From June 6 to Monday, Newport Beach lifeguards conducted 12,104 preventive actions — such as advising people to avoid certain activities and moving them out of hazardous situations — and 516 rescues, according to Adam Yacenda, lifeguard battalion chief for the city’s Fire Department.—
Summer Lin,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
Verb
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Here are straight answers to the questions people ask most before ordering an at-home microbiome test.—
Ryan Brennan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 June 2026
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This new guidance moves beyond just coffee, soda, water and food leftover containers and will allow additional forms of reuse, like permitting customers to use their own multi-use containers at salad bars or when ordering food from a food truck if the container is clean and sanitized.—
Kelley Dennings,
The Orlando Sentinel,
17 June 2026
Verb
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Birding has gone fully mainstream in 2026, and millions of new converts are asking the same beginner questions.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
18 June 2026
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County staff, led by planning director Todd Smith, gave an extensive presentation during Tuesday’s meeting with supervisors periodically asking questions.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
17 June 2026
Verb
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Anytime a politician is commanding money, regardless of the purpose, there is at least the appearance that the giver — Meta, Google, Blue Shield for example — may expect something in return.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2026
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So now this burly older man with a commanding voice and a penetrating stare had her full attention.—
Rich Schapiro,
NBC news,
20 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Instructing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instructing. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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