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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of instructs
An acronym for Size, Activity, Location, Uniform, Time, Equipment, SALUTE is a mnemonic device that typically instructs soldiers how to systematically track details about enemies.
—
Asra Q. Nomani , Alba Cuebas-Fantauzzi, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
If your dish fills quickly with water, replace the cap and empty the dish, instructs Thomas.
—Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 4 Feb. 2026
In the same way humans might periodically scroll social media while working on other tasks, installing this file instructs the AI agents to periodically hang out on Moltbook.
—Tharin Pillay, Time, 3 Feb. 2026
The usual assumption has been that if a user overtly instructs AI to act as a delusion-invoking collaborator, the AI simply obeys those commands.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Boulware instructs Ferrelli to go to Clemson’s football offices to meet with Sorrells and Swinney.
—Grace Raynor, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2026
Perez, the Minneapolis activist who trains ICE watchers, said his group instructs volunteers to stay eight feet away from agents and to avoid touching or blocking them.
—Isabel Rosales, CNN Money, 22 Jan. 2026
The post instructs fans to stay tuned for more details.
—Julianna Duennes Russ, Austin American Statesman, 20 Jan. 2026
The motion instructs county counsel to draft an ordinance for board consideration within 30 days.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2026
Asra Q. Nomani , Alba Cuebas-Fantauzzi, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
If your dish fills quickly with water, replace the cap and empty the dish, instructs Thomas.
—Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 4 Feb. 2026
In the same way humans might periodically scroll social media while working on other tasks, installing this file instructs the AI agents to periodically hang out on Moltbook.
—Tharin Pillay, Time, 3 Feb. 2026
The usual assumption has been that if a user overtly instructs AI to act as a delusion-invoking collaborator, the AI simply obeys those commands.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Boulware instructs Ferrelli to go to Clemson’s football offices to meet with Sorrells and Swinney.
—Grace Raynor, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2026
Perez, the Minneapolis activist who trains ICE watchers, said his group instructs volunteers to stay eight feet away from agents and to avoid touching or blocking them.
—Isabel Rosales, CNN Money, 22 Jan. 2026
The post instructs fans to stay tuned for more details.
—Julianna Duennes Russ, Austin American Statesman, 20 Jan. 2026
The motion instructs county counsel to draft an ordinance for board consideration within 30 days.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instructs
Verb
-
Aleys teaches Marte to read, but Aleys will suffer for her ideas.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Newsom doesn’t have much in common with voters in states like Ohio or Pennsylvania, Dan Schnur, who teaches political communications at University of California Berkeley and University of Southern California, said.—
Andrew Graham,
Sacbee.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Tracking how clusters assemble across vast stretches of time and space also informs our knowledge of the cosmic web and the cosmological parameters that shape it.—
Lee Billings,
Scientific American,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Read Buy or Sell GOOG Stock to understand what informs our current opinion.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Set in the remote highlands of Montenegro, the film tells the story of a shepherd mother and her daughter who proudly defend their ancestral mountain from the threat of becoming a NATO military training ground, stirring memories of past violence that once shattered their family.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Build a balanced plate Agusala recommends slowing down when eating and paying attention to when your brain tells you to stop.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
6 Feb. 2026
-
California educates a disproportionate share of children experiencing housing insecurity.—
Jill Stegman,
Mercury News,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Supplies are limited and available on a first-come, first-serve basis, so McDonald's advises interested customers to act fast.—
Chad Murphy,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
3 Feb. 2026
-
The brand advises to use it as a pre-wash treatment, scalp oil, and on split ends.—
Olivia Dubyak,
InStyle,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In a court filing last week, Drummond’s office said the lawmakers leveled unsubstantiated attacks at Hiett and other officials but failed to challenge the validity of the fuel-adjustment clause orders themselves.—
Paul Monies,
Oklahoma Watch,
3 Feb. 2026
-
The bill also orders utilities to implement low-income financial assistance programs and creates a moratorium for electricity shutoffs during warmer weather.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The incident remains under investigation and the sheriff’s office asks anyone with information to contact the non-emergency dispatch at (208) 454-7531.—
Shannon Tyler,
Idaho Statesman,
7 Feb. 2026
-
This herb asks very little of its gardener, but gives so much in return.—
Tessa Cooper,
The Spruce,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The free agent signing has been a huge factor in the trenches and commands a lot of attention from opposing offensive lines.—
Boston Herald staff,
Boston Herald,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Bourgeois commands a social media audience approaching six million followers, primarily through trainspotting content.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Instructs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instructs. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
