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school

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verb

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of school are discipline, educate, instruct, teach, and train. While all these words mean "to cause to acquire knowledge or skill," school implies training or disciplining especially in what is hard to master.

schooled the horse in five gaits

When is discipline a more appropriate choice than school?

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

a disciplined mind

In what contexts can educate take the place of school?

While the synonyms educate and school are close in meaning, educate implies development of the mind.

more things than formal schooling serve to educate a person

When might instruct be a better fit than school?

The synonyms instruct and school are sometimes interchangeable, but instruct suggests methodical or formal teaching.

instructs raw recruits in military drill

When is it sensible to use teach instead of school?

In some situations, the words teach and school are roughly equivalent. However, 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 school?

The words train and school can be used in similar contexts, but 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 school
Noun
After dropping the kids off, Molly returned home to work, while Matt went inside the church for the first weekly Wednesday school mass of the academic year. Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 23 Oct. 2025 However, a new school rule says that no magic is allowed on campus. Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
With keeping families in mind, the Hollingsworths hope to make schooling a family activity. Essence, 26 Sep. 2025 Seven months later, after the future Hall of Famer took the Jets to school with four touchdown passes in a 34-32 Pittsburgh Steelers victory, Thomas had a good read on exactly what Rodgers was feeling. Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for school
Recent Examples of Synonyms for school
Noun
  • While the department already consists of head of technical recruitment and analysis Maximilian Hahn, sporting director Mark Noble (whose remit is the academy), European scouts Georges Santos and Antonio Tramontano, and first-team scout Adrian Clarke, there is a clear gap at the top.
    Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Like the rest of the new 2025 backers, FirstTracks is coming into Two Oaks Ventures, which owns the MLS team and operates its academy, its MLS Next Pro franchise and Q2 Stadium.
    Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Michael Meredith, an avid duck hunter, will teach basic calling techniques.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Antipsychotic medications can reduce hallucinations and delusions, while therapies and rehabilitations can address specific concerns, like teaching cognitive techniques or enhancing social skills to interact with others.
    Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Before the ban, police in Punjab raided the house of the TLP's leader, Saad Rizvi, and the government sealed mosques and seminaries associated with the party.
    NPR, NPR, 24 Oct. 2025
  • The state visit concluded with King Charles attending a reception at the Pontifical Beda College, a seminary which trains priests from across the Commonwealth.
    Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The participants were also generally well-educated and came from multiple study sites.
    Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2025
  • SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.
    Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“School.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/school. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on school

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