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
  • Sales teaches you to communicate with impact and listen with intention.
    Melissa Houston, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
  • There are better ways to teach puppies how to behave, and one of them is rewarding good behavior rather than instilling fear.
    Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • According to Kang, investment in innovative projects should inform how the company should move forward.
    Jessica Mendoza, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025
  • The National Association of Auto Dealers informed its members that the Internal Revenue Service has reopened its portal for dealers to submit time of sale reports for EVs sold last year.
    Susan Tompor, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • 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
  • People close to the situation have told The Times’ Jack Harris that Betts had the norovirus.
    Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Literacy was seen as a major factor in pre-war slave unrest, and attempts to educate Southern Blacks were greeted with everything from suspicion to violent opposition.
    Peter Greene, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Mercedes also has an easier audience to sell EVs to -- their customers are educated and more willing to try new things.
    Morgan Korn, ABC News, 29 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The affected vehicles include: 2020 to 2021 S90 2020 to 2022 S60 2020 to 2022 V60 2020 to 2022 XC60 2020 to 2022 XC90 2022 V90 Owners are advised not to charge their vehicles until the remedy has been completed.
    James Powel, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2025
  • After a tummy tuck, you’ll be advised not to lift heavy objects, which places strain on the abdomen.
    Meirav Devash, Allure, 31 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
  • The suspect, Steven Hannah, was still inside the home, and refused to exit when officers asked him to, officials said.
    Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Experts say Ticketmaster commands more than a 70% market share of primary ticket services for major U.S. concert venues.
    Steve Holland, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2025
  • Many of the pro-Trump personalities who command big online audiences with conservative opinion shows don’t live in Washington, DC, and have little desire to drop in for press briefings.
    Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Instruct.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instruct. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on instruct

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