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
In a will or trust, a person instructs how to distribute assets upon their death.
—
Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2026
If the model instructs a wrist to rotate 180 degrees – physically impossible without injury – the system automatically redistributes that motion across multiple joints.
—Omar Kardoudi
april 13, New Atlas, 13 Apr. 2026
Aunt Lydia instructs Agnes to mentor Daisy — and that’s when the cracks within a key segment of Gilead start to form.
—Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
When a candidate who had previously filed to run withdraws within two days of the filing deadline, Missouri election law instructs local election boards to reopen the filing window.
—Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2026
Social media ban bill in Massachusetts The legislation instructs social media companies to ban minors under 14 from using their platforms.
—Neal Riley, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
In 2012, 73 percent of Coloradans approved Amendment 65, which instructs our legislature and congressional delegation to support a federal constitutional amendment allowing reasonable limits on campaign spending.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 4 Apr. 2026
Cyrene then instructs her son to appease the nymphs, Eurydice’s companions, and to make funeral offerings to Eurydice’s husband Orpheus.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Apr. 2026
In a routine step near the end of a flight, the air traffic controller handling approaches into LaGuardia instructs the pilots of Air Canada Express Flight 8646 pilots to contact the airport’s control tower, which will guide them the rest of the way.
—Michael R. Sisak, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2026
If the model instructs a wrist to rotate 180 degrees – physically impossible without injury – the system automatically redistributes that motion across multiple joints.
—Omar Kardoudi
april 13, New Atlas, 13 Apr. 2026
Aunt Lydia instructs Agnes to mentor Daisy — and that’s when the cracks within a key segment of Gilead start to form.
—Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
When a candidate who had previously filed to run withdraws within two days of the filing deadline, Missouri election law instructs local election boards to reopen the filing window.
—Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2026
Social media ban bill in Massachusetts The legislation instructs social media companies to ban minors under 14 from using their platforms.
—Neal Riley, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
In 2012, 73 percent of Coloradans approved Amendment 65, which instructs our legislature and congressional delegation to support a federal constitutional amendment allowing reasonable limits on campaign spending.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 4 Apr. 2026
Cyrene then instructs her son to appease the nymphs, Eurydice’s companions, and to make funeral offerings to Eurydice’s husband Orpheus.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Apr. 2026
In a routine step near the end of a flight, the air traffic controller handling approaches into LaGuardia instructs the pilots of Air Canada Express Flight 8646 pilots to contact the airport’s control tower, which will guide them the rest of the way.
—Michael R. Sisak, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instructs
Verb
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Rafael Perez, a real estate agent who also teaches college classes, said the best solution would be a new joint powers authority of local government agencies to create clear obligations and hone the effort.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The model is part of a curriculum developed by UCLA’s School of Education and EcoRise, that teaches students about reforestation, soil remediation and ecosystem restoration through hands-on experiences.—
Julianna Lozada,
Daily News,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Several of its designers previously worked on major projects such as Aman Tokyo and The Chedi Andermatt; experience that informs the team’s warm, Asian-leaning minimalism.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
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Since then, Tanshi has set up a major wildfire monitoring and prevention system that informs locals what days are safe for burning land, which is necessary to clear bush for farming.—
Paige Bruton,
semafor.com,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Men, society tells us ad nauseam, are simple creatures.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
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Looking at these deals tells you that this is not a company dabbling in data centers.—
Josh Brown,Sean Russo,
CNBC,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
K. R. Callaway,
Scientific American,
24 Apr. 2026
-
In 2019, the New York City Department of Education, which educates 900,000 children across some 1,600 schools, held a mandatory anti-bias training for all administrators.—
Steven F. Wilson,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Spoonemore advises pouring boiling water slowly and carefully to avoid damaging nearby plants.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
20 Apr. 2026
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The National Park Service advises keeping a safe distance of at least 50 yards and never approaching or allowing a bear to come closer.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, supreme commander of the Luftwaffe, Hitler’s second in command, and the highest-ranking surviving Nazi leader, steps out of the car, stands at attention to announce his surrender, and orders the soldiers to carry his bags.—
Alice Kaplan,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
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Although the decision orders a re-sentencing, there's a chance Peters will be handed the same sentence again.—
Chierstin Roth,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Luna asks what the customer is purchasing and creates a corresponding transaction on a nearby iPad equipped with a card payment system.—
David Ingram,
NBC news,
11 Apr. 2026
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Tickets are not required to pick daffodils at Shickasheen, but the farm asks that visitors bring their own scissors or pruners.—
Catherine Messier,
The Providence Journal,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Young is a multi-hyphenate artist who commands considerable celebrity.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Danielle Poole commands the Apollo-Soyuz rendezvous mission.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Instructs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instructs. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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