instruct

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of instruct are discipline, educate, school, teach, and train. While all these words mean "to cause to acquire knowledge or skill," instruct suggests methodical or formal teaching.

instructs raw recruits in military drill

Where would discipline be a reasonable alternative to instruct?

While in some cases nearly identical to instruct, discipline implies training in habits of order and precision.

a disciplined mind

When is educate a more appropriate choice than instruct?

The words educate and instruct are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, educate implies development of the mind.

more things than formal schooling serve to educate a person

When can school be used instead of instruct?

While the synonyms school and instruct are close in meaning, school implies training or disciplining especially in what is hard to master.

schooled the horse in five gaits

When is it sensible to use teach instead of instruct?

The meanings of teach and instruct largely overlap; however, teach applies to any manner of imparting information or skill so that others may learn.

taught us a lot about our planet

When might train be a better fit than instruct?

Although the words train and instruct have much in common, 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 instruct President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday instructing Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to begin dismantling the Department of Education. Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 20 Mar. 2025 Trump, however, issued an executive order instructing the attorney general to disregard the timetable. George Will, Twin Cities, 20 Mar. 2025 Leave a note instructing the finder to clean up the mess! Kimberly Stoney, Parents, 19 Mar. 2025 But in early February, Trump issued an executive order instructing the U.S. attorney general to conduct a 30-day review of a number of Biden’s policies on gun violence. Kff Health News, The Denver Post, 19 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for instruct
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instruct
Verb
  • The past teaches us that The former Chelsea manager has spoken about a playing style mirroring traditional English strengths.
    Simon Hughes, The Athletic, 23 Mar. 2025
  • What has Biscuits & Banjos taught you about putting on a music festival?
    Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 23 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • And hopefully, we will be fully informed, and our partners will discuss everything with us.
    Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 19 Mar. 2025
  • If feedback leads to changes, such as introducing a simplified claims portal, insurers should inform customers that their input directly influenced these enhancements.
    Meeri Savolainen, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Marvel Studios‘ clever live five-hour-plus announcement of the cast of Avengers: Doomsday was their biggest livestream, bigger than any premiere red carpet, pulling in 275M digital views we’re told and 3.1M social mentions.
    Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 27 Mar. 2025
  • National Border Patrol Council Vice President Hector Garza told Fox News Digital that these videos on TikTok and other social media outlets are nothing new, but feels that the Trump administration is taking the videos seriously and actively working to secure the border.
    Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • 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
Verb
  • In his seven years at the firm, Carr litigated appeals of FCC orders and advised clients on how to gain FCC approval.
    Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Mar. 2025
  • In March, the FDA—advised by VRBPAC—finalizes which strains American vaccine makers will include.
    Richard Hughes IV, Baltimore Sun, 19 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • On Friday, a federal judge halted plans to fire more than 1,200 journalists, engineers and other staff who were sidelined after Trump ordered a funding cut.
    Calvin Woodward, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2025
  • Each of the drug lords was sentenced to 40 years in Mexican prison, though a judge ordered Caro Quintero released in 2013 on a technicality.
    Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The Sheriff’s Department asked anyone with information about the incident to call the homicide bureau at (323) 890-5500.
    Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2025
  • Netflix romances are an ideal launching pad for internet boyfriends — just ask Glen Powell.
    Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 29 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Weaver says that despite United’s poor form, the club is still commanding top-end commercial revenues for shirt sponsorships.
    Steve Price, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Myths exist to be retold and reinvented, and by Born This Way, Lady Gaga absolutely commanded the power to do so. 14.
    Kristen S. Hé, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Instruct.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instruct. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on instruct

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