Synonym Chooser

How is the word educate different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of educate are discipline, instruct, school, teach, and train. While all these words mean "to cause to acquire knowledge or skill," educate implies development of the mind.

more things than formal schooling serve to educate a person

When might discipline be a better fit than educate?

Although the words discipline and educate have much in common, discipline implies training in habits of order and precision.

a disciplined mind

When would instruct be a good substitute for educate?

In some situations, the words instruct and educate are roughly equivalent. However, instruct suggests methodical or formal teaching.

instructs raw recruits in military drill

In what contexts can school take the place of educate?

The words school and educate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, school implies training or disciplining especially in what is hard to master.

schooled the horse in five gaits

Where would teach be a reasonable alternative to educate?

The synonyms teach and educate are sometimes interchangeable, but teach applies to any manner of imparting information or skill so that others may learn.

taught us a lot about our planet

When can train be used instead of educate?

The meanings of train and educate largely overlap; however, train stresses instruction and drill with a specific end in view.

trained foreign pilots to operate the new aircraft

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 educate These audio and visual platforms inform, educate, entertain and—increasingly in recent years—annoy. Essence, 28 Mar. 2025 Orlando Sentinel SeaWorld also educates the public on manatee conservation through in-park programs, partnerships with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and other community outreach efforts. Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2025 The nonprofit sector should leverage this potential wealth transfer by investing time in educating donors about the importance of unrestricted gifts. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025 The state agencies charged with addressing hard drug addiction and the safe use of cannabis are failing to educate the public as to the dangers of drug use. Howard Husock, New York Daily News, 19 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for educate

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Cite this Entry

“Educate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/educate. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.

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