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

Parks workers who don't comply with the new policy could face discipline, officials said, adding, the policy also instructs them to not engage in any verbal or physical altercations with ICE agents. — Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026

Rama intervenes and instructs Lakshmana to disfigure Shurpanakha. — Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026

Alexis Nikole Nelson–aka @blackforager—instructs her almost three million followers on how to eat acorns. — Rachel Levin, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 2026

In the meantime, Alex instructs Matt and James to deflate and put away the slide. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 27 Oct. 2026

The jury is expected to begin deliberating on Tuesday morning, after Tinkler Mendez instructs them on the law. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026

Its facilitator handbook encourages children to share their pronouns and instructs adults to use gender-neutral language. — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026

When Sita begs Rama to follow a demon disguised as a beautiful golden deer, Rama draws a magical protective circle around the princess and instructs her to stay within the circle’s borders. — Sohini Sarah Pillai, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026

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