BEHAVES Synonyms: 31 Similar and Opposite Words

behaves

verb

present tense third-person singular of behave

as in carries

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

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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 behaves These experiments helped researchers investigate how the underlying concept behaves in microgravity. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026 Hormonal shifts in your 40s, 50s and 60s can change how hair behaves, and a cut that worked for years may suddenly fall flat by lunchtime. — Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026 First discovered by doctors in 2009 in the ear of a patient in Japan, Candida auris behaves differently from most other fungi. — Dominique Mosbergen, Time, 27 Oct. 2026 OpenAI found that its monitoring systems would be less likely to detect when its new Astra model behaves in undesirable ways through chain-of-thought compared to older models, according to documentation from early September. — Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026 Microdroplet chemistry Min’s lab has spent years working on microdroplet chemistry, studying how water broken into tiny droplets behaves at its boundary with air. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 15 Oct. 2026 Water behaves in different ways around different sections of a protein. — Mike McRae 13, New Atlas, 14 Oct. 2026 Their primary role has been to assess AI model capabilities and risks and to flag instances where the technology behaves badly. — Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 11 Oct. 2026 Along with the Vancouver Art Gallery (a former court house) and the nearby Hotel Georgia, the Hotel Vancouver is one of the three anchors that determined how downtown Vancouver was built, and how the neighborhood behaves today. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for behaves

Verb

After a quiet day otherwise, Riley exploded for 33- and 72-yard rushing touchdowns to finish as the game’s leading rusher with 128 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries.

— Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 25 Oct. 2026
Snoring can be a signal of undiagnosed sleep apnea, which carries cardiovascular risk.

— Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of carries

Verb

Among the performers, Smith rules the roost as the no-nonsense Angela, and Jones acquits himself tolerably on comic relief duties as the pathetic Mike.

— Caspar Salmon, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026
For that demographic, form is everything, and the paper acquits its pledge that every dog must have its daily.

— The New Yorker, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of acquits

Verb

Savannah River National Laboratory conducts research involving nuclear materials, environmental management, energy technologies, and national security.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026
In 2025, 40 hours of in-home caregiving help a week ran about $72,792 a year, according to the insurance company Genworth, which conducts annual surveys of the cost of care.

— Kat McGowan, NPR, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of conducts

Verb

The law firm that filed the suit on behalf of the insurance company handles workers’ compensation cases, a representative said.

— Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2026
The facility had several unclean surfaces including under the stand-up freezers, garbage can handles and a speed rack.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of handles

Verb

The man composes his responses with the help of a manual that instructs him on which incoming string of Chinese characters should be answered with which other string of Chinese characters.

— Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 10 Aug. 2026
Agent authority composes dynamically.

— Harsh Singhal, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026

Definition of composes

Verb

Farther down, the levee that restrains the rivers is a low line of trees into the horizon.

— Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 20 Sep. 2026
The constitutional exclusionary rule restrains government, not private parties, so the Fourth Amendment generally does not bar evidence wrongfully obtained by a private actor.

— Jihun Joun, The Conversation, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of restrains

Verb

California officials, however, say the government’s list contains substantial inaccuracies and risks disenfranchising eligible citizens.

— Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 3 Nov. 2026
The study contains no word on the protein component of hemoglobin being preserved.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of contains

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“Behaves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/behaves. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of behaves

verb

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