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 Successful predators put patterns together on how their prey behaves. Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 19 May 2025 Well on their way to being safer, self-driving vehicles, with their ability to coordinate and behave efficiently, could also make for much less congested roads. Elizabeth Weise, USA Today, 18 May 2025 That would be offering leaks to Above the Law, a pugnacious legal industry website best known for scoops about law firm annual bonuses, snarky coverage of legal news and salacious stories of barristers behaving badly. Elizabeth Williamson, New York Times, 18 May 2025 The actor had been accused of behaving inappropriately around a 12-year-old child and their family. Pat Saperstein, Variety, 17 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for behave
Recent Examples of Synonyms for behave
Verb
  • Grand theft is a felony that can carry a prison sentence of up to 14 years.
    Ashley Fredde, Idaho Statesman, 30 May 2025
  • Previous studies have indicated that pure-breed cats are more likely to carry the long-type gene. Of the cats in the study, many of the mixed breed felines were former strays, suggesting that rescue cats may be more vocal.
    Ian Randall, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025
Verb
  • The men were acquitted of murder charges, and only two were convicted of lesser offenses, according to the coalition.
    Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 25 May 2025
  • Two defendants were acquitted on charges of complicity, though one was ordered to pay 5,000 euros to Kardashian and the concierge of her apartment building.
    J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • This assessment is conducted by Eco Intelligent Growth, an accredited third-party assessor.
    Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 2 June 2025
  • Deadline reported that an exit poll conducted on the opening weekend of Sinners set out to break down why people went to see the film on the big screen.
    Zak Cheney-Rice, Vulture, 2 June 2025
Verb
  • Steve Klein, who has been executive director of the Cedar Cove Feline Conservatory & Education Center in Louisburg, Kansas for over a decade, has encountered numerous cases where owners were unprepared or ill-equipped to handle exotic animals.
    J.M. Banks, Kansas City Star, 30 May 2025
  • With his former defense attorneys now working for the government, Trump earlier this year tapped the elite Manhattan law firm of Sullivan & Cromwell to handle his criminal appeal.
    Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 30 May 2025
Verb
  • Yet, while our adversaries surge ahead, the Pentagon remains restrained by decision-making processes conceived in the 1960s and barely updated since the 1990s.
    Charles Beames, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
  • Violators could pay up to $200 in fines and up to $250 plus court costs for driving with children who aren't properly restrained.
    Naheed Rajwani-Dharsi, Axios, 22 May 2025
Verb
  • To that end, the majority of the songs Metallica performed on Saturday night were all composed and written when original members Ulrich and Hetfield were still in their 20s.
    Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 1 June 2025
  • And so yet another coalition, composed of nonprofits and advocacy groups, wrote its own petition for OpenAI’s plans to be investigated, with the aim of preventing charitable organizations from being leveraged for financial gain in the future.
    Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 30 May 2025
Verb
  • For example, foods containing the slow-release carbohydrate sweetener sucromalt help people with diabetes prevent blood sugar spikes, and hypoallergenic infant formula can be lifesaving for infants that cannot digest milk at a young age.
    Paul Dawson, The Conversation, 26 May 2025
  • The Gold Bond Defense Stick contains ingredients that not only help prevent friction but also soothe the skin, such as aloe.
    Katrina Cossey, Parents, 26 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Behave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/behave. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

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