misbehavior

noun

mis·​be·​hav·​ior ˌmis-bi-ˈhā-vyər How to pronounce misbehavior (audio)
-bē-
plural misbehaviors
1
: bad, improper, or rude behavior : ill conduct
scolded the children for their misbehavior
2
US military law : any conduct by a member of the armed forces before or in the presence of the enemy that does not conform to military standards or practice for such a situation
… is charged with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy, the latter of which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.The Boston Herald

Examples of misbehavior in a Sentence

would not tolerate any misbehavior from her students
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The tussle on the Milwaukee-to-Dallas-Fort Worth flight is the latest example of apparent air passenger misbehavior – a problem that’s worsened for airlines since before the pandemic, with at least 1,854 incidents reported this year to the Federal Aviation Administration. Graham Hurley, CNN, 21 Nov. 2024 Under the Biden administration, Elon Musk felt that a lot of these regulatory agencies are staffed with people who are keeping a close eye over corporate misbehavior. Lavanya Ramanathan, Vox, 26 Oct. 2024 Not since the antics of Katherine Heigl and misbehaviors of Isaiah Washington has the behind-the-scenes drama at Grey’s Anatomy been so compelling. Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 18 Oct. 2024 The rules were prompted by a flurry of complaints about pet misbehavior in the air and by media reports of the less-than-traditional support animals that had taken to the sky. Aarian Marshall, WIRED, 16 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for misbehavior 

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of misbehavior was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near misbehavior

Cite this Entry

“Misbehavior.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misbehavior. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.

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