pupil

noun

ˈpyü-pəl How to pronounce pupil (audio)
Definition of pupilnext
1
as in student
one who attends a school generally there are 20 pupils in each class

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in adherent
one who follows the opinions or teachings of another to pupils of the philosopher Henry David Thoreau, the shores of Walden Pond are hallowed ground

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 pupil Throwing a pupil to the media risks being ostracized from the inner circles. — Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026 Schools have experienced remarkable gains in financial support in recent years — now totaling more than $25,000 per pupil from all sources — but as revenues increase, so do political pressures to increase spending. — Dan Walters, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026 In a 2007 case, Roberts, writing for the majority, struck down a Seattle school district’s program of assigning pupils to classrooms with a goal of racial diversity. — Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026 One student has described the moment a fellow pupil ran into their classroom and informed them that a teacher had been shot, during Friday’s deadly shooting. — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pupil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pupil
  1. student
  2. adherent
  3. scholar
  4. disciple
  5. follower
Noun
  • According to the university’s website, residence halls opened for students a week ago, and classes are set to begin on Monday.
    — Patrick Whittle, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Time spent away from home for education is treated as a temporary absence, so living in a dorm or apartment ordinarily does not prevent a student from meeting the requirement to live with a parent for more than half the year.
    — Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of student
Noun
  • In the warmer months, old money adherents lean toward milky white polishes and pink pearl nails.
    — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Internationally, the number of Druids is unclear but estimates suggest that the number is in the tens of thousands, with adherents concentrated principally in Europe and North America.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of adherent
Noun
  • Lewis, a housing scholar at Sacred Heart University, said the project grew from her interest in housing inequality in Bridgeport and her desire to conduct research differently.
    — Reginald David, Hartford Courant, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Some scholars report average increases of more than 50 percent, while others suggest that certain households saw their water bills double or even triple.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of scholar
Noun
  • This tilt toward Gloria causes the film to lose its way a bit, pulling focus from the more potentially vital mentor-disciple dynamic between Ed and the anxious, navel-gazing Meyers.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Ganni disciples might pair a leopard print dresses with chunky sneakers, or puff-sleeve blouses with track pants—both formulas that helped cement it as one of the leading forces behind CPHFW’s street style.
    — Kelsey Stewart, InStyle, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of disciple
Noun
  • Beliefs and practices Modern Druidry is an open and eclectic religion, allowing for considerable variation in the beliefs and practices of its followers.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The wording led some of Hank’s followers to accuse him of using ChatGPT.
    — Matt Carlstrom, Vanity Fair, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of follower

Browse Nearby Words

pupae
pupil
pupils
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pupil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pupil. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pupil

Nglish: Translation of pupil for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pupil

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