Synonyms of acts up

acts up

verb

present tense third-person singular of act up

1

as in acts out

to behave badly

the two-year-old was acting up in church so much that her dad had to take her outside

Synonyms & Similar Words

• acts out
• runs riot
• raises hell
• rebels
• disobeys
• misconducts
• misbehaves
• raises Cain
• carries on
• cuts up
• kids (around)
• horses around
• shows off
• clowns (around)
• fools around
• roughhouses

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• acts
• obeys
• conducts
• bears
• comports
• conforms
• quits
• contains
• moves
• controls
• complies
• handles
• checks
• inhibits
• acquits
• curbs
• collects
• demeans
• deports
• constrains
• restrains
• composes
• represses
• quiets

2

as in cuts up

to engage in attention-getting playful or boisterous behavior

you should have seen the boys acting up when they put on their aprons

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cuts up
• shows off
• horses around
• clowns (around)
• fools around
• revels
• monkeys (around)
• showboats
• hotdogs
• roars
• skylarks
• carries on
• wassails
• roughhouses
• misbehaves
• capers
• cavorts
• gambols
• carouses
• romps
• larks
• rollicks
• frisks
• frolics
• disports
• mafficks

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of acts up

In the cold and austere German winter (a far cry from Dakar’s physical and cultural warmth), an anxious Nourou acts up outside a hotel and is accosted by a Polish security guard, setting off a minor chain reaction in which Maja intervenes on his behalf, much to his chagrin. —Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 28 Sep. 2025

The kid acts up, the dad disciplines him and mom just sends a sorry text. —Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025