General synonyms:
* Instruct: To teach someone a specific skill or fact. This is often more focused than "educate."
* Teach: A general and widely used synonym, perhaps slightly less formal than "educate."
* School: To educate someone, often implying a formal setting.
* Train: To teach someone a practical skill, often for a specific job or purpose.
* Tutor: To teach individually, often focusing on a particular subject or area of difficulty.
* Enlighten: To inform someone, especially about something previously unknown or misunderstood. This carries a connotation of imparting knowledge that leads to greater understanding.
* Inform: To give someone facts or information. Less emphasis on teaching a skill or broader understanding.
Synonyms emphasizing a broader intellectual development:
* Cultivate: To develop or improve someone's mind or abilities, suggesting a more gradual and nurturing process.
* Develop: To help someone grow intellectually or emotionally.
Synonyms emphasizing the imparting of specific knowledge:
* Indoctrinate: To teach someone a particular belief or set of beliefs, often in a forceful or persuasive way. This carries a negative connotation.
* Brief: To give someone essential information concisely.
The best synonym to use will depend on the context. Consider what aspect of "educate" you want to highlight.