pupil

noun

ˈpyü-pəl How to pronounce pupil (audio)
Definition of pupilnext
1
as in student
one who attends a school generally there are 20 pupils in each class

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in adherent
one who follows the opinions or teachings of another to pupils of the philosopher Henry David Thoreau, the shores of Walden Pond are hallowed ground

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 pupil Being in a state of desire produces physical reactions that are difficult to manufacture — sweat, blood rushing, dilated pupils — while offering up the human impulses behind the work, like what excites a designer and what they’re drawn to. — Amy Francombe, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2026 Blackwell was astounded that Morgan was the pupil who took the program’s mission the furthest, surpassing the efforts of NFL players and affecting people well before he’s turned 21. — Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026 By 1976, school districts with the lowest percentage of white students, which were often our country’s poorest, had the highest per-pupil spending in America. — Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 8 Oct. 2026 The district’s middle schools are also below capacity, with space for more than 8,700 pupils and just 5,200 middle school students, according to the district. — Jessica Seaman, Denver Post, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pupil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pupil
  1. student
  2. adherent
  3. scholar
  4. disciple
  5. follower
Noun
  • Advertisement France has never seen so many violent incidents in a movement made up largely of high school students.
    — Nicholas Bequelin, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The student is at the reunification center waiting to be reunited with his parents, aunt Mindy Corely said.
    — Phil Helsel, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of student
Noun
  • And what's wild is that the Coke drinking habit has another notable adherent.
    — Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Since the administration kicked off its anti-AI doomerism social media campaign, taking particular aim at EA and its adherents’ belief that AI carries a high risk of ending humanity—anti-AI sentiment seems to have grown.
    — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of adherent
Noun
  • The scholar Colin Burrow, discussing Helen Vendler recently, described the goal of criticism as telling other people how good something is.
    — Lola Seaton, The New York Review of Books, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Sabrina came from a high-status family of scholars, and Phillip, the struggling musician and child of butchers, wasn’t enough for her family.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of scholar
Noun
  • In particular, Greek mathematician-philosopher Pythagoras and his disciples may have associated beans with reincarnation, so some thought eating them was technically an act of cannibalism.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026
  • In the New Testament, Jesus and his disciples take part in those pilgrimages.
    — Shay Rabineau, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of disciple
Noun
  • First was comic and content creator, George Brett Olson, who did a breakdown (watch it below) accusing an AI Instagram account with 300,000 followers of seemingly ripped off his joke word for word.
    — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Other followers focused on the actress's return to television.
    — Danielle Minnetian, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of follower

Browse Nearby Words

pupae
pupil
pupils
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pupil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pupil. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pupil

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pupil

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