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 In choosing to leave Dido behind, Virgil’s Aeneas identifies himself as a leader who could temporarily behave as Antony had done—but who chooses instead to reject love and pleasure for the good of the Roman state. Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025 This suggests that flexoelectricity could help drive how ice behaves inside storm clouds. Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2025 Fahey Rush was often responsible for demonstrating how the company’s TV audiences — in the linear era, some of the industry’s youngest — behaved and consumed media and advertising. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 3 Sep. 2025 Firing a manager after 2 league matches only tells the players behaving like children that their inexcusable behavior is okie doke. Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for behave
Recent Examples of Synonyms for behave
Verb
  • The couple recently came under much media scrutiny when Abby and her conjoined twin sister, Brittany, both 35, were spotted carrying a newborn baby while running errands last month.
    Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
  • The powerful currents of flash floods can carry drivers off the road.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In December, the 61-year-old was found guilty of DUI, negligent driving, failure to control speed to avoid a collision and failure to notify of a change in address, but she was acquitted of reckless driving, following a March car accident, the state's attorney's office previously confirmed.
    Jay Stahl, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
  • The jury acquitted Catarino on two additional counts of armed criminal action.
    Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Along the top of the fire, the crews continue working slowly parallel with, and sometimes on, the McKinley Grove Road, doing clearing vegetation by hand, applying pre-treatment, and conducting critical strategic firing operations to remove heavy vegetation in front of the active fire front.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 7 Sep. 2025
  • While more research needs to be conducted, a promising clinical study found that participants who took a specific soluble keratin supplement for three months strengthened and improved the appearance of their nails.
    Brianna Peters, Vogue, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Kelsey Mitchell #0 of the Indiana Fever handles the ball during the first half of the WNBA game at PHX Arena on August 07, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona.
    Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
  • This student’s outbursts had been an ongoing issue for three years, and Elliot quickly realized that few teachers had received the necessary restraint training to handle this student.
    IndyStar, IndyStar, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Wilson's dying body was pulled inside the home by the family and restrained with his own handcuffs.
    Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2025
  • State police will typically drive immigrants, who are restrained in belly chains, to what are essentially ICE bus stops at various places throughout the state.
    Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Well, the 23-year-old Belgian was among Europe’s best shot-stopping goalkeepers last season, is quick off his line and appears to be pretty composed, which would be ideal around his two flapping new goalkeeper team mates.
    Tim Spiers, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2025
  • Its pieces look sleek and composed in the chaos of downtown streets, yet sophisticated enough for a gallery opening uptown.
    Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Advertisement The panel has already obtained roughly 33,000 pages of records from the Justice Department, though Democrats have complained those disclosures contained little new information.
    Nik Popli, Time, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Eventually, the Nepali army was deployed to contain the situation.
    Rajeev Tyagi, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Behave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/behave. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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