instruct vs tell

instruct and tell both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
instruct	No	No	Yes	No
tell	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, tell is a hypernym of instruct; that is, tell is a word with a broader meaning than instruct:

instruct: give instructions or directions for some task
tell: give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority

Other hypernyms of instruct include enjoin, order, say.

instruct (verb)	tell (verb)
impart skills or knowledge to	discern or comprehend
give instructions or directions for some task	mark as different
make aware of	let something be known
	narrate or give a detailed account of
	give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority
	give evidence
	express in words
	inform positively and with certainty and confidence