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
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Recent Examples of pupil
The result was that, over a twenty-year period, California’s rank on per-pupil spending dropped from 18 to 42 among the fifty states.
—
Austin Sarat, Washington Post, 6 Jan. 2026
Sessa won an Independent Spirit Award for best breakthrough performance and a Critics' Choice Movie Award for best young performer for his turn as brooding pupil.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 4 Jan. 2026
With 12 classrooms and about 300 students on the main floor, class sizes would average about 25 pupils.
—Mars King, Twin Cities, 25 Dec. 2025
The remaining 130 schoolchildren kidnapped by gunmen from a Catholic school in Nigeria’s north-central Niger State in November have been released, a presidential spokesman said on Sunday, confirming that all abducted pupils are now free.
—Mohammed Tawfeeq, CNN Money, 21 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pupil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pupil
Noun
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The duo joined stars like Brendan Fraser and Anthony Rapp as competitive prep school students in the 1992 drama School Ties.—
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The program is for high school students who are not four-year college bound and provides free mentorship and early career exposure along with help building skills.—
Noun
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Lawyers for the Satanic Temple argued that these restrictions conflict with the religious practices of its Hoosier adherents.—
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The movement had adherents among the student body and on the faculty at the Catholic University in Chiclayo, which has about ten thousand students, and the cathedral boasted an enormous portrait of Josemaria Escrivá, Opus Dei’s sainted founder.—
Noun
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The Mediterranean in the tenth to seventh century BCE often gets explained by scholars using modern terminology like sea commerce, cabotage or maritime trade, and this presents a false picture of a world that is structured by rules and organized interstate bodies and national governments.—
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Paloma Picasso book bags This is one for the scholars!—
Noun
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McDermott, who understands that change is essential to sustained success, is a disciple.—
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After Saban's 2024 retirement Alabama chose as his successor Kalen DeBoer, a highly successful coach — but not a Saban disciple.—
Noun
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Jennifer Aniston's social media followers were treated to some banter between the Friends alum and her costar Courteney Cox — not as Rachel and Monica, but themselves.—
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The chef has 115 million social followers and has established himself over two decades with prime time shows like Kitchen Nightmares and MasterChef more recently being accompanied by a vibrant social media profile.—
Cite this Entry
“Pupil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pupil. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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