INSTRUCT Synonyms: 108 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

instruct

verb

in-ˈstrəkt

Definition of instruct next

as in to teach

to cause to acquire knowledge or skill in some field spent his military career instructing young pilots

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to inform

to give information to instructed everyone in the use of the new telephone system

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to tell

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

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 The video later shows the trooper instructing the driver to step out of the vehicle and asking him to sit in the front of a police cruiser. —

Chantz Martin, Fox News, 23 Jan. 2025 Trump’s order instructs agencies to consider people who are in the country on temporary visas or without authorization as being not subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. —

Brian Bennett, TIME, 22 Jan. 2025 If they are gravely wounded, they have been instructed to detonate a grenade to avoid being captured alive, holding it under the neck with one hand on the pin as Ukrainian soldiers approach. —

Marc Santora, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2025 Agencies will also be prohibited from promoting gender transition, and prisons will be instructed not to use taxpayer funds for gender transition services. —

Raul A. Reyes, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for instruct

Recent Examples of Synonyms for instruct

Verb

The conservatory began by teaching music classes — and eventually dance, drama and visual arts — to all students, regardless of race.

— Rebecca San Juan, Miami Herald, 22 Jan. 2025
Like all of Ross’ kids, she was taught about entrepreneurship and financial responsibility from a young age.

— Emily Krauser, People.com, 22 Jan. 2025