1
as in teaches
to cause to acquire knowledge or skill in some field
spent his military career instructing young pilots
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in informs
to give information to
instructed everyone in the use of the new telephone system
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in tells
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 instructs
If a page instructs you to run code to fix a problem, close it immediately.
—
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 Jan. 2026
The order instructs Education Secretary Linda McMahon, former head of the Small Business Administration and co-founder of the World Wrestling Entertainment, to shrink the $100 billion department, which cannot be dissolved without Congressional approval.
—Abby Monteil, Them., 16 Dec. 2025
The governor's order instructs Florida agencies to prevent the two groups and those who have provided them material support from receiving contracts, employment and funds from a state executive or cabinet agency.
—CBS News, 16 Dec. 2025
Each letter on the dreidel instructs a player to add gelt to the pot, take from the pot, or do nothing.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 16 Dec. 2025
Yesterday’s executive order instructs a set of federal agencies to identify state AI regulations that could be deemed cumbersome and then take action against those policies, such as through litigation or conditioning federal funding on not enacting or enforcing the policies.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2025
At one point, Prasad instructs staff who disagree with his conclusions to resign.
—Berkeley Lovelace Jr, NBC news, 29 Nov. 2025
In another building, a teacher instructs a class on how to bend metal electrical conduits.
—Miami Herald, 11 Nov. 2025
Cameron and Sullivan find Jones, and Sullivan instructs Cameron to bring him back to the medic truck.
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 Jan. 2026
The order instructs Education Secretary Linda McMahon, former head of the Small Business Administration and co-founder of the World Wrestling Entertainment, to shrink the $100 billion department, which cannot be dissolved without Congressional approval.
—Abby Monteil, Them., 16 Dec. 2025
The governor's order instructs Florida agencies to prevent the two groups and those who have provided them material support from receiving contracts, employment and funds from a state executive or cabinet agency.
—CBS News, 16 Dec. 2025
Each letter on the dreidel instructs a player to add gelt to the pot, take from the pot, or do nothing.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 16 Dec. 2025
Yesterday’s executive order instructs a set of federal agencies to identify state AI regulations that could be deemed cumbersome and then take action against those policies, such as through litigation or conditioning federal funding on not enacting or enforcing the policies.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2025
At one point, Prasad instructs staff who disagree with his conclusions to resign.
—Berkeley Lovelace Jr, NBC news, 29 Nov. 2025
In another building, a teacher instructs a class on how to bend metal electrical conduits.
—Miami Herald, 11 Nov. 2025
Cameron and Sullivan find Jones, and Sullivan instructs Cameron to bring him back to the medic truck.
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instructs
Verb
-
Adopting these federal tax cuts for businesses could, at least in theory, attract businesses to Idaho, said Seth Ruhter, who teaches courses on economics and corporate finance at the College of Idaho.—
Sarah Cutler,
Idaho Statesman,
9 Nov. 2025
-
As a young man, he was raised by his domineering father (Charles Dance), who sits with him and teaches him about the sciences.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Michelle reflected on how both of her parents instilled confidence in her from a young age which unquestionably informs her style sensibility to date.—
Essence,
Essence,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Unfortunately, Devnan soon informs Sarah and her parents that there’s no oil on her land.—
Joe Leydon,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Rose tells Shaw that her community is concerned about sacred remains being disturbed.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2025
-
In this intimate portrait of life during the exhilarating early days of the women’s liberation movement in Scandinavia in the 1970s, Pernille Ipsen tells the stories of the seven women who raised her, who were all part of the women’s movement in Denmark.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Proceeds from the concert will benefit the Painted Turtle, which provides a summer camp experience for kids with serious medical issues, and the Bridge School, which educates children with severe speech and physical disabilities.—
Daniel Kreps,
Rolling Stone,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Now, rather than recommending the above vaccines, the HHS advises making a decision in conjunction with your health care provider.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Parents with questions about vaccines or any other medical issue should talk to their child’s pediatrician, the AAP advises.—
Emily Kay Votruba,
EverydayHealth.com,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
With his gun pointed at McNealy, Heisler orders him to show his hands and not reach for anything.—
Monroe Trombly,
Louisville Courier Journal,
6 Jan. 2026
-
The agent then orders Parias to turn off his vehicle.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
What better way to welcome the weekend than with the smell and sound of a frying ijeh, asks Sami Tamimi.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Space exploration asks us to think beyond ourselves.—
Alexander Görlach,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Pakistan’s army chief, General Syed Asim Munir, was awarded the rank of Field Marshal, and commands wide public and political support.—
Rafia Zakaria,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The design commands attention with its dramatic proportions.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Instructs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instructs. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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