Synonyms of instructs

instructs

verb

present tense third-person singular of instruct

1

as in teaches

to cause to acquire knowledge or skill in some field

spent his military career instructing young pilots

Synonyms & Similar Words

• teaches
• educates
• schools
• indoctrinates
• lessons
• trains
• tutors
• informs
• prepares
• coaches
• guides
• preaches
• instills
• directs
• lectures
• grounds
• leads
• mentors
• moralizes
• introduces
• qualifies
• inculcates
• initiates
• drills
• enlightens
• edifies
• familiarizes
• primes
• shows
• imparts (to)
• retrains
• verses
• fits
• habilitates
• briefs
• rears
• implants
• homeschools
• catechizes
• reteaches
• reeducates
• reschools

2

as in informs

to give information to

instructed everyone in the use of the new telephone system

Synonyms & Similar Words

• informs
• advises
• tells
• teaches
• educates
• briefs
• apprises
• acquaints
• familiarizes
• enlightens
• notifies
• clears
• clues (in)
• verses
• hips
• fills in
• convinces
• alerts
• advertises
• assures
• catches up
• reassures
• wises (up)
• lets someone know
• keeps (someone) posted
• certifies
• discloses (to)
• announces (to)
• lectures
• schools
• warrants
• tutors
• disabuses
• disenchants
• undeceives
• disillusions

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• misleads
• misinforms

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

• tells
• orders
• asks
• commands
• directs
• advises
• enjoins
• begs
• warns
• bosses (around)
• bids
• adjures
• appoints
• requires
• requests
• authorizes
• compels
• charges
• assigns
• entreats
• beseeches
• supervises
• obliges
• counsels
• manages
• forces
• leads
• conducts
• oversees
• petitions
• constrains
• coerces
• controls
• superintends
• commissions

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• follows
• minds
• obeys
• observes
• keeps
• complies (with)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of instructs

Once identified, the AI then instructs the robot’s grippers to grab the item from the waste stream, ready for processing. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026

David instructs Johnny to find out what Taylor & Byrne know about Flora Monroe, discreetly. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026

The legislation also instructs officials from the National Park Service to remove any such signage installed without Congressional approval. — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 7 Oct. 2026

However, the order instructs officials to explore ways to forgive the tax obligations, including potentially legislation. — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026

In this model, the device being signed into presents a code and instructs the user to enter it into a browser on a separate device. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 22 Sep. 2026

Beside the cigarette vendor, another man is pulling a rainbow fishing net he's woven from its display on the long branch of a tree and instructs a cruiser to crouch before him. — Charlie Hobbs, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Sep. 2026

For example, Florida’s traffic guidance instructs drivers that red means stop, yellow means stop if possible, and green means proceed when the intersection is clear. — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2026

This base pair substitution can, in some cases, radically change the shape of the protein the DNA instructs a cell to produce. — Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2026