behave

as in to carry
to manage the actions of (oneself) in a particular way if the children behave themselves properly and sit quietly during church, they'll get their ice cream afterward

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb behave differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of behave are acquit, comport, conduct, and deport. While all these words mean "to act or to cause oneself to do something in a certain way," behave may apply to the meeting of a standard of what is proper or decorous.

the children behaved in church

When can acquit be used instead of behave?

The words acquit and behave are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, acquit applies to action under stress that deserves praise or meets expectations.

acquitted herself well in her first assignment

When might comport be a better fit than behave?

The synonyms comport and behave are sometimes interchangeable, but comport suggests conduct measured by what is expected or required of one in a certain class or position.

comported themselves as gentlemen

When is conduct a more appropriate choice than behave?

The words conduct and behave can be used in similar contexts, but conduct implies action or behavior that shows the extent of one's power to control or direct oneself.

conducted herself with unfailing good humor

When would deport be a good substitute for behave?

In some situations, the words deport and behave are roughly equivalent. However, deport implies behaving so as to show how far one conforms to conventional rules of discipline or propriety.

the hero deported himself in accord with the code of chivalry

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of behave But some people also behave badly in hotel rooms and private residences. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2025 During this time, people often behave in ambiguous ways by sending mixed signals, holding back or keeping things playful instead of making bold, direct moves. Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025 After the model has been trained, companies can set system prompts, or guidelines, for how the model should behave to minimize sycophantic behavior. ArsTechnica, 12 June 2025 The troops would have to agree to behave professionally and respectfully, sources said. Anne Flaherty, ABC News, 12 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for behave
Recent Examples of Synonyms for behave
Verb
  • One charge carries a mandatory minimum of five years in prison.
    David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 23 June 2025
  • The surprise vote, and ensuing ceasefire, puts in sharp relief the global importance of the narrow strait between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula, which carries 20% of global oil production.
    Nino Paoli, Fortune, 23 June 2025
Verb
  • Karen Read was acquitted Wednesday of the most serious charges in the 2022 death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe.
    Matt Schooley, CBS News, 19 June 2025
  • She was arrested, jailed - and ultimately acquitted last month.
    Lauren Frayer, NPR, 18 June 2025
Verb
  • Research conducted for exhibits on Nolde in Frankfurt in 2014 and in Berlin in 2019 revealed the artist’s true relationship to Nazism to the wider public.
    Ombline Damy, JSTOR Daily, 26 June 2025
  • However, diverse actions over decades have often been conducted in coordination with Iran–and many would not have happened without Iranian support.
    Jill Goldenziel, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
Verb
  • His approval on handling inflation and the cost of living has also fallen by nearly 6 points in the same period.
    Chloe Mayer, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025
  • From floral arrangements to first dances, every detail matters—and at Walters Wedding Estates, every detail is handled with care, transparency, and a passion for making those dreams come true.
    Rhiannon Frater, USA Today, 23 June 2025
Verb
  • Officers restrained Padilla and put him on the ground.
    Joey Cappelletti, Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2025
  • Wohlwend, smiling at times from the courtroom well, was among the staffers who restrained Max face down for nearly two hours in November 2018 after the boy spat at another classmate, according to a lawsuit filed on behalf of Max’s family following his death.
    Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 17 June 2025
Verb
  • Sapphire is a variety of the mineral corundum, which is composed almost entirely of aluminum oxide.
    David Bressan, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
  • Retired educators: The Retired Educators of Osceola County is composed of people who are retired from the field of education from anywhere in the country.
    Joe Rassel, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • After new growth is visible on kangaroo paws, fertilize with any complete fertilizer (containing N-P-K, an abbreviation for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium).
    Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 19 June 2025
  • The Singaporean government said servers potentially containing AI-powering Nvidia chips shipped from the United States to Singapore had ended up in Malaysia, but that their final destination was unknown.
    AFP, Fortune, 19 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Behave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/behave. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.

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