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
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Marco Cenabre, for example, teaches literature at New Haven Academy, a public high school in New Haven.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Balance teaches validated meditation skills, such as body scan, breath control, and visualization.—
Rodger Dean Duncan,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Athlete feedback informs the use of thin padding and a lightweight heel counter beneath to balance comfort, capture and weight.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
29 Jan. 2026
-
And when Lord Penwood dies, the villainous step-mother informs poor Sophie that her father left her no inheritance, and to survive, Sophie must become a maid in the Penwood house.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Jennette McCurdy tells Sofia Coppola about writing Half His Age.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
-
After age 30, people lose, on average, 3% to 5% of their muscle mass each decade, which is an especially risky trajectory for women, Rachele Pojednic, PhD, EdM, FACSM, a nutrition and exercise researcher, and director of education at Stanford Lifestyle Medicine, tells SELF.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Cody Cottier,
Scientific American,
29 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
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In the end, the thieves did not steal his car, but Roy advises any other victim — let the thieves take it.—
Marissa Sulek,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
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When selecting a bird bath, only use a shallow dish that is no deeper than 3 inches, advises Mizejewski.—
Anne Readel,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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July 2017 The Fire and Police Commission orders Flynn to expand the department’s pursuit policy.—
Francesca Pica,
jsonline.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Starting Monday, specialists will deliver reports evaluating the nearly 50-year-old building’s condition and repair costs that could determine whether the City Council orders Dallas’ government hub to stay put or move elsewhere.—
Devyani Chhetri,
Dallas Morning News,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Anna asks as her mother sits in the bathtub on a stool shampooing her daughter’s hair.—
Lisa Kennedy,
Variety,
31 Jan. 2026
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Inside the facility, Angela empties her pockets, a guard scans her with a metal-detection wand, pats her down and asks her to spread her legs.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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For example, just six countries account for roughly two-thirds of mining production, and China alone commands about 40% of global smelting capacity.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Privately, however, sources described a violent struggle over control of the military— who commands it, who coordinates it — and who may soon deploy it against internal rivals.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Instructs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instructs. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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